Abstract:
An apparatus, method, and system for collecting data related to effluent emitted from tools in semiconductor fabrication facilities using one or more sensors to take continuous real-time samples of the effluent to indicate one or more properties and characteristics of effluent, and based at least in part on the properties and characteristics indicated in the samples taken by at least one or more sensors, determining the proper processing, recyclability, and treatment of the effluent.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Water is essential to semiconductor fabrication. It is estimated that creating an integrated circuit on a 300 mm wafer requires approximately 2,200 gallons of water in total, of which more than 68% (1,500 gallons) is ultra-pure water (UPW). With flow rates for a manufacturing fabrication facility ranging from 500 to 2,000 gallons-per-minute, a complete system can cost between $25-40 million. Water use of 3-4 million gallons per day for a 300 mm fabrication facility could double to 6-8 million gallons per day for future 450 mm fabrication facilities. 
         [0002]    In order to save water in semiconductor fabrication facilities there needs to be new apparatuses and methods to control UPW and liquid effluent flows throughout the semiconductor fabrication facility. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    Described herein is a system for monitoring and recording flow data from UPW systems used for cleaning and rinsing of patterned wafers. A resource source monitoring system includes a liquid effluent monitoring system, a flue gas monitoring system, or both. 
         [0004]    The invention described herein monitors liquid effluent to determine the potential recyclability of water. Based upon certain characteristics and properties of the liquid or gas effluent the resource monitoring system described herein will allow a custom valve to sort the liquid and gas effluent. For example, liquid effluent may be sorted into various categories: a high concentration (i.e. initially heavy with process chemicals and residue) to be treated; a lower concentration (i.e. less polluted) that can potentially be used for chilling towers, scrubbers, landscape, and related internal use (sometimes referred to as gray water); and a lowest concentration (i.e. cleaning wastewater that may be recycled into the front-end of the UPW system along with city water). By establishing a system to automatically control effluent recycling, the use of water can be optimized and potential errors in the tool responsible for wafer cleaning may be identified. 
         [0005]    The invention described herein is also configured to process gas effluent based on certain characteristics and properties of the gas effluent. For example, gas effluent may be sorted into: a highly acidic concentration (e.g. with a strong presence of acids such as hydrofluoric and hydrochloric acids); a highly caustic concentration (e.g. with a strong presence of ammonia); a high concentration of carbon; and a high concentration of ozone. By establishing a system to automatically control effluent gas processing, potentially harmful gases can be properly treated before release into the atmosphere, potential errors in the tool responsible for wafer cleaning may be identified, and employee safety can be ensured. 
         [0006]    The invention described herein will increase process tool efficiency and productivity, optimize water utilization, intelligently monitor and provide real time data to assist improved sustainability, and provide environmental health and safety (EHS) enhancements for code compliance and employee safety. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, a flue gas monitoring system comprises a flue outlet pipe connected to a flue outlet port of a wafer cleaning system for receiving a flue gas released by the wafer cleaning system; a flue bypass pipe connected to the flue outlet pipe and in fluid communication with a set of one or more flue sensors, the one or more flue sensors configured to generate one or more outputs indicative of concentrations in the flue gas of one or more of: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone or any reagent that can result in a gaseous emission from the wafer cleaning system; first, second and third flue diversion pipes, the first flue diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to a first processing module, the second flue diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to an second processing module, the third flue diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to a third processing module; a valve connected to the flue outlet pipe and to the first, second and third flue diversion pipes, the valve positioned to be downstream from the flue outlet pipe and upstream of the first, second and third flue diversion pipes, the valve configured to direct the flue gas from the flue outlet pipe to one of the first, second or third flue diversion pipes; and a controller having as inputs one or more of: the one or more outputs from the one or more flue sensors, the operational stage of the wafer cleaning system, and the predetermined chemical mixture corresponding to a particular operational stage of the wafer cleaning system, the controller, based at least on the one or more inputs, having as an output a valve control instruction, the valve mechanism having as an input the valve control instruction, the valve directing the flue gas to the first, second or third flue diversion pipes based on the valve control instruction. 
         [0008]    In some embodiments, an liquid monitoring system, comprises one or more outlet pipes connected to one or more outlet ports of a wafer cleaning system for receiving one or more liquid effluents discharged by the wafer cleaning system; one or more bypass pipes connected to the one or more outlet pipes, the one or more bypass pipes in fluid communication with a set of one or more sensors, the one or more sensors including a pH sensor and a resistivity sensor, the pH sensor configured to generate a pH output indicative of a pH of the one or more liquid effluents, the resistivity sensor configured to generate a resistivity output indicative of a resistivity of the one or more liquid effluents; first, second and third diversion pipes, the first diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to a first storage facility, the second diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to a second storage facility, the third diversion pipe connected at a downstream end to a third storage facility; one or more valves connected to the one or more outlet pipes and to the first, second and third diversion pipes, the one or more valves positioned to be downstream from the one or more outlet pipes and upstream of the first, second and third diversion pipes, the one or more valve configured to direct the one or more liquid effluents from the one or more outlet pipes to one of the first, second or third diversion pipes; and a controller having as inputs at least the output or one or more sensors, the controller having as an output a valve control instruction, the controller generating the valve control instruction based on the output of the one or more sensors, the one or more valves having as an input the valve control instruction, the one or more valves directing the one or more liquid effluents to the first, second or third diversion pipes based on the valve control instruction. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary resource monitoring system 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a liquid effluent monitoring system of the exemplary resource monitoring system 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a first exemplary embodiment of a flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a second exemplary embodiment of a flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment of the user interface of a visual display device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  demonstrates an example of a method of using the liquid effluent monitoring system of the resource monitoring system. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  demonstrates an example of a method of using the using the flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary embodiment of a controller of the resource monitoring system. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     I. Definitions of Terms 
       [0018]    Certain terms used in connection with exemplary embodiments are defined below. 
         [0019]    As used herein, the term “wafer cleaning system,” “tool(s),” and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to a wafer cleaning system, a chemical-mechanical planarization tool, any other tool or piece of equipment used in a semiconductor fabrication facility. 
         [0020]    As used herein, the term “effluent” and similar terms are defined as a liquid, solid, or gaseous emission, such as the discharge or outflow from a machine or an industrial process. 
         [0021]    As used herein, the term “monitoring” and similar terms are defined as a device or arrangement for observing, detecting, or recording the operation of a machine or system. 
         [0022]    As used herein, the term “analysis” and similar terms are defined as the process of optimization of waste recovery by looking at tool and/or wafer cleaning system performance. 
         [0023]    As used herein the term “flue gas” and similar terms are defined as a gaseous emission, such as the discharge outflow from a machine or an industrial process. 
         [0024]    As used herein the terms “properties,” “characteristics,” and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to features, qualities, attributes, properties, components, nature, characteristics, and the like belonging to a corresponding object. 
         [0025]    As used herein the term “storage facility,” “foundry,” and similar terms are defined as a tank, a reservoir, or any other instrument that is capable of holding effluent. 
         [0026]    As used herein, the terms “data,” “content,” “information,” and similar terms may be used interchangeably to refer to data capable of being transmitted, received, and/or stored in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Thus, use of any such terms should not be taken to limit the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. Further, where a module, processor or device is described herein to receive data from another module, processor or device, it will be appreciated that the data may be received directly from the another module, processor or device or may be received indirectly via one or more intermediary modules or devices, such as, for example, one or more servers, relays, routers, network access points, base stations, hosts, and/or the like, sometimes referred to herein as a “network.” Similarly, where a computing device is described herein to send data to another computing device, it will be appreciated that the data may be sent directly to the another computing device or may be sent indirectly via one or more intermediary computing devices, such as, for example, one or more servers, relays, routers, network access points, base stations, hosts, and/or the like. 
         [0027]    As used herein, the term “module,” encompasses hardware, software and/or firmware configured to perform one or more particular functions. 
         [0028]    As used herein, the term “computer-readable medium” refers to a non-transitory storage hardware, non-transitory storage device or non-transitory computer system memory that may be accessed by a controller, a microcontroller, a computational system or a module of a computational system to encode thereon computer-executable instructions or software programs. A “non-transitory computer-readable medium” may be accessed by a computational ystem or a module of a computational system to retrieve and/or execute the computer-executable instructions or software programs encoded on the medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, one or more types of non-transitory hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media (for example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more optical disks, one or more USB flash drives), computer system memory or random access memory (such as, DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM), and the like. 
         [0029]    As used herein, the term “set” refers to a collection of one or more items. 
         [0030]    As used herein, the term “plurality” refers to two or more items. 
         [0031]    As used herein, the terms “equal” and “substantially equal” refer interchangeably, in a broad lay sense, to exact equality or approximate equality within some tolerance. 
         [0032]    As used herein, the terms “similar” and “substantially similar” refer interchangeably, in a broad lay sense, to exact sameness or approximate similarity within some tolerance. 
         [0033]    As used herein, the terms “couple” and “connect” encompass direct or indirect connection among two or more components. For example, a first component may be coupled to a second component directly or through one or more intermediate components. 
         [0034]    Some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some, but not all, embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
       II. Exemplary Embodiments 
       [0035]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary resource monitoring system. Resource monitoring system  100  may detect, monitor, store, and utilize information gathered from a wafer cleaning system&#39;s  101  liquid effluent or flue gas omission. Wafer cleaning system  101  can be any system or tool that removes particles and or chemical impurities from a semiconductor surface including but not limited to: a Radio Corporation of America (RCA) cleaning system, a pre-diffusion cleaning system, a particle removal cleaning system, a metallic ion removal system, a single wafer cleaning system, a batch wafer cleaning system, and the like. Furthermore, Wafer cleaning system  101  may be implemented with any element or tool associated with a semiconductor fabrication facility. 
         [0036]    Resource monitoring system  100  may include both a liquid effluent monitoring system ( FIG. 1  items  102 ,  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  104 ,  113 ,  114 ,  115  and related items) and a gas flue monitoring system ( FIG. 1  items  102 ,  108 ,  109 ,  103 ,  110 ,  111 ,  112  and related items). In another embodiment, resource monitoring system  100  may include only a liquid effluent monitoring system. In another embodiment, resource monitoring system may include only a flue gas monitoring system. In some embodiments, resource monitoring system  10  may include a leak detector that detects when there is a leak in the resource monitoring system  100 . In other embodiments, resource monitoring system  100  may include micro switches (door interlocks) that indicate if there is unauthorized access to the resource monitoring system  100 . The leak detector and micro switches help assure that there is not any unintended exposure to potentially dangerous liquids or gases. 
         [0037]    As a byproduct of operation, wafer cleaning system  101  may emit flue gas. Flue gas is routed via path  118  to sensors  108 ,  109  to determine if the flue gas contains one or more chemical components, characteristics, or properties that may make it necessary to process before the flue gas may be safely released in the atmosphere. 
         [0038]    Sensors  108 ,  109  may detect in real-time the presence of: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone, any reagent that can result in a gaseous emission from wafer cleaning system  101 , and the like. Sensors  108 ,  109  may also detect non-chemical characteristics of the flue gas including but not limited to: temperature and pressure. Sensors  108 ,  109  may detect characteristics of the flue gas at predetermined time intervals or continually such that monitoring of the flue gas can occur in real-time (i.e. without any intended delay). Sensors  108 ,  109  may detect characteristics of flue gas by taking a sample of the flue gas at least once every 1 to 999 milliseconds. In a preferred embodiment, sensors  108 ,  109  take a sample of the flue gas every 250 milliseconds. Furthermore, although only two sensors are illustrated there may be an infinite number of sensors, wherein each sensor is configured to detect a different characteristic of the flue gas. 
         [0039]    Sensors  108 ,  109  may in real-time output the results of each sample to controller  102  using communication link  121  and any suitable communication protocol such as Ethernet. Sensors  108 ,  109  may also output in real-time the results of each sample to visual display device  116  for display and/or storage. 
         [0040]    Controller  102  may be implemented using any standard computer equipment including but not limited to: a computer, a field programmable gate array, application specific integrated circuit, and the like. Controller  102  may also receive information from wafer cleaning system  101  using communication link  122  and any suitable communication protocol such as Ethernet. Information from wafer cleaning system  101  may include but not limited to: recipe information. In a wafer cleaning system, a recipe indicates steps and the chemicals used in each step for cleaning and rinsing a wafer. For example, in an RCA standard clean the first step is a procedure for removing organic residue from silicon wafers that includes using a mixture of water, ammonium hydroxide, and hydrogen peroxide. On the other hand, step two of the RCA standard clean is a procedure for removing metal ions from a wafer that includes using a mixture of water, hydrogen chloride, and hydrogen peroxide. In some embodiments, visual display device  116  may also receive recipe information from wafer cleaning system  101  for display and/or storage. 
         [0041]    Based on information from sensors  108 ,  109  and/or wafer cleaning system  101 , controller  102  is able to send a signal via communication link  124  using any suitable communication protocol (e.g. Ethernet) to valve  103 . In response, valve  103  is able to direct flue gas to a particular one of the processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  125 ,  126 ,  127 . Processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  may provide different processes for treating the flue gas based on the characteristics of the flue gas. For example, processing module  110  may provide treatment for excessive causticity in the flue caused by a high presence of ammonia. In a second example, processing module  111  may provide treatment for excessive acidity in the flue gas caused by a high presence of hydrogen fluoride. In a third example, processing module  112  may provide treatment for excessive ozone in the flue gas. These three examples are not meant to limit the capabilities of the processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112 . The processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  may process flue gas in any particular way in accordance with the detected characteristics of the flue gas. Furthermore, although only three processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  are illustrated there may be an infinite number of processing modules. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, visual display device  116  receives, via communication link  117  by any suitable communication protocol (e.g. Ethernet), communications sent from controller  102  to valve  103 . Visual display device  116  may display communications received from controller  102 , sensors  108 ,  109 , and wafer cleaning system  101  as shown in  FIG. 5 . In some embodiments visual display device  116  is general purpose computer with a monitor. In other embodiments, visual display device  116  is a handheld computer, PDA, cell phone, tablet, laptop computer, mobile computing device or the like. 
         [0043]    As a byproduct of operation, wafer cleaning system  101  may emit liquid effluent. Liquid effluent via path  119  is routed to sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and valve  104 . Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  determine if the effluent liquid  119  contains one or more chemical components, characteristics, or properties. 
         [0044]    Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may detect in real-time the presence of: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, water, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone, hydrofluoric acid, and any reagent that can result in a liquid emission from wafer cleaning system  101 , and the like. Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may also detect and measure other characteristics of the liquid effluent including but not limited to: pH level, resistivity, temperature, and liquid flow. Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may detect characteristics of the liquid effluent at predetermined time intervals or continually such that monitoring of the liquid effluent can occur in real-time (i.e. without any intended delay). Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may detect characteristics of liquid effluent by taking a sample of the liquid effluent at least once every 1 to 999 milliseconds. In a preferred embodiment, sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  take a sample of the liquid effluent every 250 milliseconds. Although only three sensors are illustrated there may be an infinite number of sensors present, wherein each sensor is configured to detect a different characteristic of the liquid effluent. 
         [0045]    Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may output the results of each sample taken of the liquid effluent to controller  102  in real-time using communication link  120  with any suitable communication protocol such as Ethernet. Sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  may also output the results of each sample in real-time to visual display device  116  for display and/or storage. 
         [0046]    Based on information output from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and/or wafer cleaning system  101 , controller  102  may send a signal via communication link  123  using any suitable communication protocol (e.g. Ethernet) to valve  104  to direct the liquid effluent to a particular one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . Storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  may provide different collection modules for the liquid effluent. For example, storage facility  113  may collect liquid effluent that has a pH value of 1 to 3. In a second example, storage facility  114  may collect liquid effluent that has a pH value of 3 to 5.5. In a third example, storage facility  115  may collect liquid effluent that has a pH value of  7  to  9 . Although only storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  are illustrated there may be an infinite number of storage facilities. 
         [0047]    In some embodiments, visual display device  116  receives, via communication link  117  using any suitable communication protocol (e.g. Ethernet), communications sent from controller  102  to valve  103 . Visual display device  116  may display communications received from controller  102 , sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and wafer cleaning system  101  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0048]    In some cases, resource monitoring system  100  may be configured to be connected to an existing wafer cleaning system  101  without the need to modify or retrofit the wafer cleaning system. In other cases, the resource monitoring system  100  may be configured to be integrated with the wafer cleaning system  103   
         [0049]    The flue gas monitoring system and the liquid effluent monitoring system may operate independently in some cases, for example, using two different and independent controllers. In other cases, the flue gas monitoring system and the liquid effluent monitoring system may operate in cooperation with each other, for example, using the same controller. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  illustrates a more detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a liquid effluent monitoring system of the exemplary resource monitoring system  100 . Wafer cleaning system  101  may contain acid outlet port  205 , for outputting acid liquid effluent from wafer cleaning system  101 , and hydrofluoric acid outlet port  206 , for outputting hydrofluoric acid liquid effluent from wafer cleaning system  101 . The current operational stage of wafer cleaning system  101  will determine if the liquid effluent is flushed to acid drain  205  or hydrofluoric acid drain  206 . However, it should be recognized that even if liquid effluent is output through acid drain  205 , it does not necessarily mean the effluent will be acidic. Likewise, even if liquid effluent is output through hydrofluoric acid drain  206 , it does not necessarily mean the effluent will be hydrofluoric acid. This anomaly is true because wafer cleaning systems do not detect the effluent to confirm its characteristics before it is drained, so is possible, for example, that hydrofluoric acid effluent could be unintentionally flushed to acid drain  205  instead of hydrofluoric acid drain  206 . 
         [0051]    Liquid effluent drained through acid drain  205  may be input into acid outlet pipe  201 . Acid outlet pipe  201  feeds into acid bypass pipe  202  and acid valve input  207 . Acid outlet pipe  201  may be dimensioned and configured to accommodate a volume flow rate of the liquid effluent released. In some embodiments, the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  may have a volume flow rate between  2 - 200  gallons per minute. The volume flow rate may also be expressed in liters or other liquid volume measurements. 
         [0052]    Acid outlet pipe  201  may include acid bypass pipe  202  that receives a portion of the liquid effluent flow from the acid outlet pipe  201  so that one or more properties of the liquid effluent may be detected by sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 , and returns the liquid effluent back to the acid outlet pipe  201 . The acid bypass pipe  202  may have an upstream end connected to an upstream portion of the acid outlet pipe  201 , and a downstream end that is in fluid communication with sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 . 
         [0053]    The acid bypass pipe  202  may be dimensioned and configured so that the cross-sectional diameter is substantially smaller than cross-sectional diameter of the acid outlet pipe  201  to accommodate a smaller volume flow rate of the liquid effluent than is present in the acid outlet pipe  201 . This enables the pressure of the liquid effluent in the acid bypass pipe  202  to be significantly lower than the pressure of the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201 , which allows the sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  to detect one or more properties of the liquid effluent without being damaged. 
         [0054]    Further downstream from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and the acid bypass pipe  202 , the acid outlet pipe  201  may have a downstream end connected to valve input  207 . Valve input  207  is connected to valve  104 , and valve  104  routes the liquid effluent to storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . Valve  104  may include a single valve or a bank of multiple valves configured to selectively direct the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  into one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . 
         [0055]    In one embodiment valve  104  may be operated by controller  102 . Controller  102  may be configured to analyze the outputs from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and based at least in part on the analysis, signal valve  104  to selectively divert the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  to one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . 
         [0056]    Now with brief reference to  FIG. 8 , the controller  102  may include a comparison circuit  810 , that receives as input one or more outputs from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  and compares the input to one or more predetermined threshold values, and generates a valve control instruction based on the comparison. In one embodiment, the valve control instruction may be an electronic single, instruction or unit of data communication configured to be received and interpreted by valve  104  and includes an indication of how valve  104  should direct the liquid effluent received from the acid outlet pipe  201  to one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . For example, if sensor  105  outputs several indications of hydrofluoric acid in acid outlet pipe  201 , then controller  102  may transmit instructions to valve  104  to open a port corresponding to storage facility  113 , and ports corresponding to any other storage facility should remain closed. 
         [0057]    In another embodiment, the comparison circuit  810  may compare one or more of the following sensor outputs to one or more corresponding predetermined threshold values: the pH output and the resistivity output. Controller  102  may compare output from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  to corresponding threshold values at predetermined time intervals or continually such that monitoring and control of the liquid effluent occur in real-time (i.e. without any intended delay). 
         [0058]    In some embodiments, controller  102  may be provided in the wafer cleaning system  101 . In other embodiments, controller  102  may be provided remotely or separately from the wafer cleaning system  101  but may receive data and/or instructions from the wafer cleaning system  101 , for example, information on a current or past operational or cleaning state of the wafer cleaning system  101 . In one embodiment, the controller  102  may generate a valve control instruction based on an input from the wafer cleaning system  101  including a current or past operational stage of the wafer cleaning system  101 . 
         [0059]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , in one example, if the comparisons performed on one or more of the inputs from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  indicate that the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  is in the predetermined pH range of  1 - 2  (i.e. extremely acidic), then the valve control instruction may indicate that the valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connect to diversion pipe  128  and corresponding storage facility  113 . 
         [0060]    Similarly, if comparisons performed on one or more inputs from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  indicate that the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  is in the predetermined pH range of 2.1 to 5 (moderately acidic), then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  128  and corresponding storage facility  114 . 
         [0061]    Similarly, if the comparisons performed on one more of the inputs from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107  indicate that the liquid effluent in the acid outlet pipe  201  is in the predetermined pH range of 5.5-7 (minimally acidic), then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  130  and corresponding storage facility  115 . 
         [0062]    Separating the liquid effluent in acid outlet pipe  201 , based at least in its pH value allows certain effluent to be reused with minimal processing. For example, effluent with a pH range of 5.5-7 might be useful as gray water that can be used in cooling towers. In another example, effluent with a pH of 7 might be useful for watering vegetation. In another embodiment, effluent with a pH value of 1-2 might be reusable as hydrofluoric acid. 
         [0063]    Controller  102  may generate a valve control instruction based at least in part on: recipe information of wafer cleaning system  101 , which indicates the operational state and combination of chemicals used in that operational state; output from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 , which may indicate the flow rate of the liquid effluent, pH levels, resistivity, the presence of: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, water, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone, and any reagent that can result in a liquid emission from wafer cleaning system  101 ; predetermined thresholds of any above listed measurable characteristics; or a combination of any two or more items listed above. 
         [0064]    With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , liquid effluent may be output from wafer cleaning system  101  via hydrofluoric acid outlet port  206  and input into hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 . Hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  feeds into hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  204  and then eventually to valve input  208 . Hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  may be dimensioned and configured to accommodate a volume flow rate of the liquid effluent released. In some embodiments, the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric outlet pipe  203  may have a volume flow rate between 2-200 gallons per minute. The volume flow rate may also be expressed in liters or other liquid volume measurements. 
         [0065]    Hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  may include hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  204  that receives a portion of the liquid effluent flow from the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  so that one or more properties of the liquid effluent may be detected by sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a , and returns the liquid effluent back to the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 . The hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  202  may have an upstream end connected to an upstream portion of the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 , and a downstream end that is in fluid communication with sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a.    
         [0066]    The hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  204  may be dimensioned and configured so that the cross-sectional diameter is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  to accommodate a smaller volume flow rate of the liquid effluent than is present in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 . This enables the pressure of the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  204  to be significantly lower than the pressure of the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 , which allows the sensor  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  to detect one or more properties of the liquid effluent without being damaged. 
         [0067]    Further downstream from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  and the hydrofluoric acid bypass pipe  204 , the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  may have a downstream end connected to valve input  209 . Valve input  209  is connected to valve  104 , and valve  104  routes the liquid effluent to storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . Valve  104  may include a single valve or a bank of multiple valves configured to selectively direct the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  into one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . 
         [0068]    In one embodiment valve  104  may be operated by controller  102 . Controller  102  may be configured to analyze the outputs from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  and based at least in part on the analysis, signal valve  104  to selectively divert the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  to one or more of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . 
         [0069]    Now with reference to  FIG. 8 , the controller  102  may include a comparison circuit  810 , which receives as input one or more outputs from sensor  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  and compares the input to one or more predetermined threshold values, and generates a valve control instruction based on the comparison. In one embodiment, the valve control instruction may be an electronic single, instruction or unit of data communication configured to be received and interpreted by the valve  104  and including an indication of how the valve  104  should direct the liquid effluent received from the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  to one of the storage facilities  113 ,  114 ,  115  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . For example, if sensor  105   a  outputs several indications of hydrofluoric acid in hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203 , then controller  102  may transmit instructions to valve  104  to open a port corresponding to storage facility  113 , and ports corresponding to any other storage facility should remain closed. 
         [0070]    In one embodiment, the comparison circuit may compare one or more of the sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  output to one or more corresponding predetermined threshold values including, but not limited to: the pH output and the resistivity output. Controller  102  may compare output from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  to corresponding threshold values at predetermined time intervals or continually such that monitoring and control of the acid effluent occur in real-time (i.e. without any intended delay). 
         [0071]    In some embodiments, controller  102  may be provided in wafer cleaning system  101 . In other embodiments, controller  102  may be provided remotely or separately from the wafer cleaning system  101  but may receive data and/or instructions from the wafer cleaning system  101 , for example, information on a current or past operational or cleaning state of the wafer cleaning system. In one embodiment, the controller  102  may generate a valve control instruction based on an input from the wafer cleaning system  101  including a current or past operational stage of the wafer cleaning system  101 . 
         [0072]    Returning to  FIG. 2 , in one example, if the comparisons performed on one or more of the inputs from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  indicate that the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  is in the predetermined pH range of 1-2 (i.e. extremely acidic), then the controller  102 ′s valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  128  and corresponding storage facility  113 . 
         [0073]    Similarly, if comparisons performed on one or more inputs from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  indicate that the liquid effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  is in the predetermined pH range of 2.1 to 5 (moderately acidic), then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  129  and corresponding storage facility  114 . 
         [0074]    Similarly, if the comparisons performed on one more of the inputs from sensors  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a  indicate that the effluent in the hydrofluoric acid outlet pipe  203  is in the predetermined pH range of 5.5-7 pH (i.e. minimally acid), then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  130  and corresponding storage facility  115 . 
         [0075]    Separating the liquid effluent, based at least on its pH value allows certain effluent to be reused. For example, effluent with a pH range of 5.5-7 might be useful as gray water, which can be used in cooling towers. In another example, effluent with a pH of 7 might be useful for watering vegetation. In another example, effluent with a pH value of 1-2 might be reusable as hydrofluoric acid. 
         [0076]    Controller  102  may generate the valve control instruction based at least in part on: recipe information of wafer cleaning system  101 , which indicates the operational state and combination of chemicals used in that operational state; output from sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a , which may indicate the flow rate of the effluent, pH levels, resistivity, the presence of: hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone, and any reagent that can result in a liquid emission from wafer cleaning system  101 ; predetermined thresholds of any above listed measurable characteristics; or in combination of any two or more items listed above. 
         [0077]    Although  FIG. 2  is illustrated with valve  104 , the invention is may consist of any number of valves. In some embodiments, there is a first valve connected to valve input  207 , and a second valve connected to valve input  209 . The first and second valve may route liquid effluent to foundries  113 ,  114 ,  115 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  128 ,  129 ,  130 . In another embodiment a first and second valve may not have access to the same foundries. In such an embodiment a first valve will have a first set of foundries and a second valve will have a second set of foundries. 
         [0078]      FIG. 3  illustrates a more detailed view of an exemplary embodiment of a flue gas monitoring system of the exemplary resource monitoring system  100 . Wafer cleaning system  101  may contain flue output port  305 , for outputting flue gas from wafer cleaning system  101 . 
         [0079]    Flue gas output through flue output port  305  is input into flue gas outlet pipe  301 . Flue gas outlet pipe  301  feeds into flue gas bypass pipe  302  and further downstream to valve input  307 . Flue gas outlet pipe  301  may be dimensioned and configured to accommodate a volume flow rate of the flue gas released. In some embodiments, the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  may have a volume flow rate of about  600  cubic feet per minute. 
         [0080]    Flue gas outlet pipe  301  may include flue gas bypass pipe  302  that receives a portion of the flue gas flow from the flue gas outlet pipe  301  so that one or more properties of the flue gas may be detected by sensors  108 ,  109  and returns the flue gas back to the flue gas outlet pipe  301 . The flue gas bypass pipe  302  may have an upstream end connected to an upstream portion of the flue gas outlet pipe  301 , and a downstream end that is fluid communication with sensors  108 ,  109 . The flue gas bypass pipe  302  may be dimensioned and configured so that the cross-sectional diameter is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional diameter of the flue gas outlet pipe  301  to accommodate a smaller volume flow rate of the flue gas than is present in the flue gas outlet pipe  301 . The flue gas bypass pipe  302  enables the pressure of the flue gas to be significantly lower than the pressure of the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301 , which allows the sensors  108 ,  109  to detect one or more properties of the flue gas without being damaged. 
         [0081]      FIG. 4  shows a second embodiment of exemplary embodiment of flue gas bypass pipe  302  of the flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system  100 . In this particular embodiment, flue gas outlet pipe  301  feeds into the flue gas bypass pipe  302 , and the flue gas bypass  302  feeds into the inlet port  403  of flue intake manifold  401 . Flue intake manifold  401  is connected to a downstream end of the flue bypass pipe  302 , outlet ports  405 ,  406  are connected sensors  108 ,  109 . The flue intake manifold  401  thereby allows the flue gas to be uniformly distributed to multiple flue sensors for substantially concurrent detection of multiple properties of the flue gas. By routing the flue gas into separate outlet ports  405 ,  406  the flue intake manifold  401  also relieves each sensor from being exposed to the full pressure of the flue gas in the flue gas bypass pipe  302 . This diversion prevents the sensors from being damaged under the potential immense pressure of the flue gas in flue bypass pipe  302 . 
         [0082]    In some embodiments, the flue gas bypass pipe  302  may include a flue exhaust manifold  402  that includes input ports  407 ,  408  connected to flue sensors  108 ,  109 , and an outlet port  404  connected to flue gas bypass pipe  302 . Flue gas bypass pipe  302  may have a downstream end that is connected to a downstream portion of the flue gas outlet pipe  301  so that the flue gas that was diverted away for sensing is returned to the general flow in the flue gas outlet pipe  301 . 
         [0083]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , further downstream from sensors  108 ,  109  and the flue gas bypass pipe  302 , the flue gas outlet pipe  301  may have a downstream end connected to valve input  307 . Valve input  307  is connected to valve  103  and valve  103  routes the flue gas to processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  125 ,  126 ,  127 . Valve  103  may include a single valve or a bank of multiple valves configured to selectively direct the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  into one of the processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112 , using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  125 ,  126 ,  127 . 
         [0084]    In one embodiment valve  103  may be operated by controller  102 . Controller  102  may be configured to analyze the outputs from sensors  108 ,  109  and based at least in part of the analysis, signal valve  104  to selectively divert the gas flue in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  to one or more of the processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  125 ,  126 ,  127 . 
         [0085]    Now with reference to  FIG. 8 , the controller  102  may include a comparison circuit  810 , that receives as input one or more outputs from sensor  108 ,  109  and compares the input to one or more predetermined threshold values, and that generates a valve control instruction based on the comparison. In one embodiment, the valve control instruction may be an electronic single, instruction or unit of data communication configured to be received and interpreted by the valve  103  and including an indication of how the valve  103  should direct the flue gas received from the flue gas outlet pipe  301  to one of the processing modules  110 ,  111 ,  112  using one of the corresponding diversion pipes  125 ,  126 ,  127 . For example, if sensor  108  outputs several indications of hydrofluoric acid in flue gas outlet pipe  301 , then controller  102  may transmit instructions to valve  103  to open a port corresponding to processing module  110 , and ports corresponding to any other processing module should remain closed. 
         [0086]    In one embodiment, the comparison circuit may compare one or more of the following sensor outputs to one or more corresponding predetermined threshold values: hydrofluoric acid output and hydrochloric acid output. Controller  102  may compare output from sensors  108 ,  109  to corresponding threshold values at predetermined time intervals or continually such that monitoring and control of the flue gas may occur in real-time (i.e. without any intended delay). 
         [0087]    In some embodiments, controller  102  may be provided in the wafer cleaning system  101 . In other embodiments, controller  102  may be provided remotely or separately from the wafer cleaning system  101  but may receive data and/or instructions from the wafer cleaning system  101 , for example, information on a current or past operational or cleaning state of the wafer cleaning system. In one embodiment, the controller  102  may generate a valve control instruction based on an input from the wafer cleaning system  101  including a current or past operational stage of the wafer cleaning system  101 . 
         [0088]    Returning to  FIG. 3 , in one example, if the comparisons performed on one or more of the inputs from sensors  108 ,  109  indicate that the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  is excessively acidic (i.e. more acidic than a predetermined threshold activity), then the valve control instruction may indicate that the valve  103  should selectively open only the output port connect to diversion pipe  125  and corresponding processing module  110 . 
         [0089]    Similarly, if comparisons performed on one or more inputs from sensors  108 ,  109  indicate that the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  is excessively caustic (i.e. more caustic than a predetermined threshold causticity),then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  103  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  126  and corresponding processing module  111 . 
         [0090]    Similarly, if comparisons performed on one or more inputs from sensors  108 ,  109  indicate that the flue gas in the flue gas outlet pipe  301  contains an excessive concentration of one or more solvents (i.e. a higher solvent concentration than a predetermined threshold concentration), then the valve control instruction may indicate that valve  104  should selectively open only the output port connected to diversion pipe  127  and corresponding processing module  112 . 
         [0091]    Separating the flue gas in flue outlet pipe  301 , based at least on acid, caustic, or solvent levels allows proper processing for the flue gas before it will be released into the atmosphere. 
         [0092]    Controller  102  may generate the valve control instruction based at least in part on: recipe information of wafer cleaning system  101 , which indicates the operational state and combination of chemicals used in that operational state; output from sensors  108 ,  109  which may indicate the presence of : hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, ammonia, water, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, carbon, ozone, any reagent that can result in a gaseous emission from wafer cleaning system  101 , and the like; output from sensors  108 ,  109 , which may indicate temperature and gas pressure; predetermined thresholds of any above listed measurable characteristics; or a combination of any two or more items listed above. 
         [0093]    With regard to  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  although sensors were only illustrated in the bypass pipes, it should be understood that sensors may be located anywhere in the resource monitoring system, including in the wafer cleaning system, output ports, outlet pipes, and valves. 
         [0094]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary user interface  501  of visual display device  116  for displaying outputs from one or more sensors provided in the resource monitoring system  100 . 
         [0095]    In one embodiment, the user interface  501  may render, in real-time, representations of the sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a ,  108 ,  109  outputs over time, for example, graph  502   a  for displaying the hydrogen fluoride output of sensor  105 , graph  502   b  for displaying the hydrogen chloride output of sensor  106 , graph  502   c  for displaying the temperature output of sensor  107 , graph  502   d  for displaying the isopropyl alcohol output of sensor  108 , and graph  502   e  for displaying the ozone output of sensor  109 . In one embodiment, the user interface  501  may render indications of the instantaneous levels of samples taken by sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a ,  108 ,  109  in a bar graph form. In certain embodiments, one or more alarms may be generated if it is determined that one or more of the sensors  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a ,  108 ,  109  outputs have exceeded predetermined threshold values. In one example, the alarms may be visually represented on the user interface  501  as alarms  503   a - e  each corresponding to one sensor  105 ,  106 ,  107 ,  105   a ,  106   a ,  107   a ,  108 ,  109  outputs. In another example, the alarms may be audibly generated alternatively or in addition to the visual alarms. 
         [0096]    In other embodiments, graphs  502   a - e  may display any output from any sensor. The settings button  504   a - e  allows a user of visual display device  116  to change the sensor output on each graph, as well as change various other chart properties including but not limited to: graph type (e.g. bar, line, pie, etc.), threshold level for alert notifications, and the time interval of the chart. While  FIG. 5  only illustrates some sensor outputs, it is within the scope of the invention to display sensor outputs for any sensor within any embodiment of the invention. For example, in one embodiment, the user interface  501  may render, in real-time, representations of the sensor outputs over time, for example, graph  502   a  for displaying the pH output from sensor  105  and graph  502   b  for displaying the resistivity output from sensor  106 . It is also within the scope of the invention to display information pertaining to the leak detector and the micro switches in the resource monitoring system  100 . For example an alert may displayed when there is a leak detected in the resource monitoring system or when there has been unauthorized access to the resource monitoring system. 
         [0097]      FIG. 6  demonstrates an example of a method using the liquid effluent monitoring system of the resource monitoring system  100 . In step  600  a wafer cleaning system outputs liquid effluent as a byproduct of a wafer cleaning process. In step  601 , one or more sensors of the liquid effluent monitoring system of the resource monitoring system samples the liquid effluent to determine the presence of certain properties. In step  602 , each sample that the one or more sensors take is sent to a controller and a visual display device. In step  603 , the controller, based on the received sample from one or more sensors is configured to send a valve control signal to a valve. In step  605 , the valve will receive the control signal from the controller and route the liquid effluent to a proper storage facility. Once the effluent is output to a proper storage facility it is capable of being reused with minimal processing. For example, if the effluent has pH value between 5.5 and 8-5 and resistivity of 2-4 mega ohms, then the liquid effluent might be reusable as gray water without any additional processing. In step  604 , the user of a visual display device is able to determine the condition of the wafer cleaning system based upon the output of the sensors. For example, if wafer cleaning system is in step one of an RCA clean and that step calls for a mixture of 5 parts water, 1 part ammonium hydroxide, and 1 part hydrogen peroxide, but the liquid effluent reveals an excessive amount of ammonium hydroxide then it is an indicator that something is going wrong in the wafer cleaning system. 
         [0098]      FIG. 7  demonstrates an example of a method of using the flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system  100 . In step  700  a wafer cleaning system outputs flue gas as a byproduct of a wafer cleaning process. In step  701 , one of more sensors of the flue gas monitoring system of the resource monitoring system samples the flue gas to determine the presence of certain properties. In step  702 , each sample that the one or more sensors take is sent to a controller and a visual display device. In step  703 , the controller, based on the received sample from one or more sensors, is configured to send a valve control signal to a valve. In step  705 , the valve will receive the control signal from the controller and route the flue gas to a proper processing module. For example, if the flue gas is detected to have a high concentration of hydrofluoric acid it should be processed differently than if the flue gas has a high concentration of ozone. In step  704 , the user of a visual display device is able to determine the condition of the wafer cleaning system based upon the output of the sensors. For example, if wafer cleaning system is in step one of an RCA clean and that step calls for a mixture of  5  parts water,  1  part ammonium hydroxide, and  1  part hydrogen peroxide, but the gas flue reveals an excessive amount of ammonium hydroxide then it is an indicator that something is going wrong in the wafer cleaning system. 
         [0099]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment of controller  102 . Controller  102  consists of a processor  802  that is connected to memory  804 . Memory  804  is configured to store data, controller  102 &#39;s operating system, information received from any sensors, information received from wafer cleaning system  101 , information received from a user of visual display device  116 , predetermined threshold values, and other data. Input/output circuitry  806  is configured to receive communications from any sensor, wafer cleaning system  101 , and a user of visual display device  116 . Comparison circuit  810  is configured to take the communications received from input/out circuitry  806  and information in memory  804  and perform analysis on various data to determine the proper routing of flue gas and liquid effluent output from wafer cleaning system  101 . Communications circuitry  808  is configured to send valve control information to any valve. 
       III. Exemplary Processors and Computing Devices 
       [0100]    Systems and methods disclosed herein may include one or more programmable processors, processing units and computing devices having associated therewith executable computer-executable instructions held or encoded on one or more non-transitory computer readable media, RAM, ROM, hard drive, and/or hardware. In exemplary embodiments, the hardware, firmware and/or executable code may be provided, for example, as upgrade module(s) for use in conjunction with existing infrastructure (for example, existing devices/processing units). Hardware may, for example, include components and/or logic circuitry for executing the embodiments taught herein as a computing process. 
         [0101]    Displays and/or other feedback means may also be included, for example, for rendering a graphical user interface, according to the present disclosure. The displays and/or other feedback means may be stand-alone equipment or may be included as one or more components/modules of the processing unit(s). 
         [0102]    The actual computer-executable code or control hardware that may be used to implement some of the present embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of such embodiments. For example, certain aspects of the embodiments described herein may be implemented in code using any suitable programming language type such as, for example, the MATLAB technical computing language, the LABVIEW graphical programming language, assembly code, C, C# or C++ using, for example, conventional or object-oriented programming techniques. Such computer-executable code may be stored or held on any type of suitable non-transitory computer-readable medium or media, such as, a magnetic or optical storage medium. 
         [0103]    As used herein, a “processor,” “processing unit,” “computer” or “computer system” may be, for example, a wireless or wire line variety of a microcomputer, minicomputer, server, mainframe, laptop, personal data assistant (PDA), wireless e-mail device (for example, “BlackBerry,” “Android” or “Apple,” trade-designated devices), cellular phone, pager, processor, fax machine, scanner, or any other programmable device configured to transmit and receive data over a network. Computer systems disclosed herein may include memory for storing certain software applications used in obtaining, processing and communicating data. It can be appreciated that such memory may be internal or external to the disclosed embodiments. The memory may also include a non-transitory storage medium for storing computer-executable instructions or code, including a hard disk, an optical disk, floppy disk, ROM (read only memory), RAM (random access memory), PROM (programmable ROM), EEPROM (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory storage devices, or the like. 
         [0104]    In describing exemplary embodiments, specific terminology is used for the sake of clarity. For purposes of description, each specific term is intended to; at least, include all technical and functional equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. In addition, in some instances where a particular exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of system elements or method steps, those elements or steps may be replaced with a single element or step. Likewise, a single element or step may be replaced with a plurality of elements or steps that serve the same purpose. Further, where parameters for various properties are specified herein for exemplary embodiments, those parameters may be adjusted up or down by 1/20th, 1/10th, ⅕th, ⅓rd, ½nd, and the like, or by rounded-off approximations thereof, unless otherwise specified. Moreover, while exemplary embodiments have been shown and described with references to particular embodiments thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various substitutions and alterations in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Further still, other aspects, functions and advantages are also within the scope of the invention. 
         [0105]    Exemplary flowcharts are provided herein for illustrative purposes and are non-limiting examples of methods. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that exemplary methods may include more or fewer steps than those illustrated in the exemplary flowcharts, and that the steps in the exemplary flowcharts may be performed in a different order than shown. 
         [0106]    Blocks of the block diagram and the flow chart illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that some or all of the blocks/steps of the circuit diagram and process flowchart, and combinations of the blocks/steps in the circuit diagram and process flowcharts, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems that perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. Exemplary systems may include more or fewer modules than those illustrated in the exemplary block diagrams. 
         [0107]    Many modifications, combinations and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these embodiments of the invention pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications, combinations and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.