Abstract:
A method to control puddling on a fluid dispense head, comprising limiting the height of a puddle of fluid over a fluid dispensing nozzle while simultaneously limiting the spread of the puddle laterally away from the nozzle.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/241,129 filed Feb. 26, 2014 which is itself a 35 U.S.C. 371 national stage filing of international application no. PCT/US2011/054171 filed Sep. 30, 2011, each incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Ink jetting printers, laboratory equipment and other devices eject fluid from nozzles so as to form images on media, deposit fluid into receptacles of a wellplate, or the like. Puddling of fluid sometimes results on an outer surface of such an entity during normal operations. Incomplete dispensing into wellplates, or streaks, spots or other undesirable artifacts on a printed media can result if such puddles achieve sufficient volume. The present teachings address the foregoing and related concerns. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]    The present embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0004]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of a dispense head according to one example of the present teachings; 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a dispense head according to another example; 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  depicts a dispense head operating scenario according to another example; 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head according to one example; 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head according to another example; 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head according to another example; 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a portion of a dispense head according to one example; 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of a portion of a dispense head according to another example; 
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram of a fluid dispensing apparatus according to another example of the present teachings; 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a flow diagram of a method according to the present teachings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Introduction 
       [0014]    Methods and apparatus are provided related to dispense heads. A dispense head is formed to define a plurality of fluid jetting nozzles and a surface pattern. The surface pattern is characterized by one or more voids extending inward from an outer surface of the dispense head. Fluid puddle formation during operation of the dispense head is limited in volume by way of the surface pattern. Fluid puddle limiting reduces or eliminates dispensing errors to a receiving entity, or undesirable artifacts from resulting on a printed media. 
         [0015]    In one example, a dispense head includes a material defining a fluid-jetting nozzle. The material further defines a surface pattern spaced apart from the fluid jetting nozzle. The surface pattern is configured to limit a volume of a fluid puddle forming on an outer surface of the material during operation. 
         [0016]    In another example, a fluid dispensing apparatus includes a dispense head configured to eject fluid through a plurality of nozzles. The dispense head includes a surface pattern configured to limit fluid puddle formations on a surface of the dispense head during operation. The apparatus also includes a controller configured to control operation of the dispense head so as to dispense patterns of fluid to a receiving entity. 
         [0017]    In still another example, a method includes forming a dispense head from a solid material to define a plurality of nozzles and a surface pattern. The surface pattern is configured to limit a volume of fluid forming on a surface of the dispense head during operations. The surface pattern is characterized by one or more voids extending inward from a surface of the dispense head. 
       Illustrative Dispense Head 
       [0018]    Reference is now directed to  FIG. 1 , which depicts a plan view of a dispense head  100 . The dispense head  100  is illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Thus, other dispense heads, devices and apparatus can be configured, formed or used in accordance with the present teachings. In one example, the dispense head  100  is used to dispense respective quantities of dissolved compounds in a pharmaceuticals testing context. In another example, the dispense head  100  is applied to jet quantities of one or more different inks in an inkjet printing context. Other applications of the dispense head  100  can also be used. 
         [0019]    The dispense head  100  includes a die or main portion  102 . The die  102  is defined by a solid material. In one example, the die  102  is formed from or includes silicon and has various features and aspects as described hereinafter formed by way of photolithography. Other materials or fabrication processes can also be used. 
         [0020]    The dispense head  100  is characterized by a plurality of nozzles  104 , arranged along lines  105  and  107  as a pair of respective rows  106  and  108 . In particular, each nozzle  104  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  110  of the dispense head  100  inward to a corresponding firing chamber  112 . In turn, each of the firing chambers  112  is fluidly coupled to a fluid slot  114  defined within the die  102 . The fluid slot  114  defines a fluid conduit configured to provide fluid to each of firing chamber  112  during normal operations of the dispense head  100 . Each of the nozzles  104  is therefore fluidly coupled to the fluid slot  114  by way of a respective firing chamber  112 . 
         [0021]    The dispense head  100  also includes a pair of channels or voids  116  and  118 , respectively. Each channel  116  and  118  is defined by a respective void that extends from the outer surface  110  into the die  102 . Each channel  116  and  118  is about rectangular in plan form and is defined by a depth-wise dimension into the die  102 . The channels  116  and  118  are parallel to each other and disposed in spaced adjacency to the rows  106  and  108  of nozzles  104 . The channels  116  and  118  collectively define a surface pattern  120 . 
         [0022]    The surface pattern  120  functions to limit the size or volume of a puddle (or pool) of fluid that forms on the outer surface  110  during normal operation of the dispense head  100 . In particular, the surface pattern  120  alters or disrupts the otherwise planar surface geometry of the outer surface  110  such that surface tension within the fluid limits puddle growth. 
       Another Illustrative Dispense Head 
       [0023]    Attention is now turned to  FIG. 2 , which depicts a schematic view of a dispense head  200 . The dispense head  200  is illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Thus, the present teachings can be applied to other dispense heads, devices or apparatus. In one example, the dispense head  200  is essentially equivalent or analogous to the dispense head  100  described above. The dispense head  200  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0024]    The dispense head  200  includes a die  202  formed from a solid material such that a monolithic structure is defined. Silicon or another suitable material can be used to form the die  202 . The die  202  has been formed or processed using suitable techniques to define the respective features described below. In one example, the die  202  is formed by way of photolithography. Other processes can also be used. 
         [0025]    The dispense head  200  is characterized by a fluid slot  204 , defining a fluid conduit within the die  202 . Fluid is provided to various features of the dispense head  200  by way of the fluid slot  204  during normal operation. The dispense head  200  also includes respective firing chambers  206  and  208 . The firing chambers  206  and  208  are in fluid communication with the fluid slot  204  such that fluid can be provided to each during normal operation. 
         [0026]    The dispense head  200  also includes a firing resistor  210  disposed within the firing chamber  206 , and a firing resistor  212  disposed within the firing chamber  208 . Each of the firing resistors  210  and  212  is configured to cause a rapid boiling of fluid within the respective firing chamber in response to electrical signaling. The dispense head  200  also includes a nozzle  214  that fluidly couples the firing chamber  206  to the exterior of the dispense head  200 . Similarly, a nozzle  216  couples the firing chamber  208  to the exterior of the dispense head  200 . The dispense head  200  is also characterized by an outer surface  218 . 
         [0027]    The dispense head  200  is further characterized by a channel  220  and a channel  222  formed in the die  202 . Each of the channels  220  and  222  is defined by a void having a rectangular cross-section and a linear length-wise aspect (normal to the drawing sheet). Each channel  220  and  222  is formed by a suitable process such as photolithography, laser ablation, and so on. Each channel  220  and  222  extends from the outer surface  218  inward to the die  202 . Collectively, the respective channels  220  and  222  define a surface pattern  224 . 
         [0028]    Typical normal operation of the dispense head  200  is as follows: fluid is supplied to the dispense head  200  from an external source (not shown) filling the fluid slot  204 . Fluid flows from the fluid slot  204  into the respective firing chambers  206  and  208 . A controller external to the dispense head  200  sends electrical pulses or signals to the firing resistors  210  and  212 , resulting in the controlled ejection of fluid from the nozzles  214  and  216 , respectively. 
         [0029]    Typically, fluid puddles or pools on the outer surface  218  of the dispense head  200  as printing operations progress. The fluid puddle spreads out laterally, eventually increasing in volume until the puddle edges come into contact with the channels  220  and  222 . Surface tension of the fluid and the abrupt (i.e., square-edge) surface contour change at each channel  220  and  222  cause the fluid puddle to stop increasing in volume, generally holding a static size. The halted or limited size of the fluid puddle on the outer surface  218  reduces or eliminates various problems associated with incomplete dispensing or undesirable transfer of excess fluid to another entity. 
         [0030]    In one example, the dispense head  200  is used to dispense varying amounts of fluid into receptacles of a wellplate. As used herein, a “wellplate” refers to a substrate formed to define an array (or matrix) of discrete receptacles. Wellplates are familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art of pharmaceuticals testing or similar technologies. Fluids dispensed in such a context can include, without limitation, DMSO (i.e., dimethyl sulfoxide), drugs or compounds dissolved in DMSO at various concentrations, and so on. The present teachings contemplate reducing or eliminating non-dispensed drops or dispensing failures when dispensing fluids into wellplates or other similar entities by virtue of surface patterns. 
         [0031]    In another example, the dispense head  200  is used to dispense droplets of liquid ink on to a media. Such media can include, without limitation, sheet paper, roll-to-roll paper, roll-off paper, vinyl media, and so on. The present teachings contemplate reducing or eliminating streaks, spots or other undesirable artifacts that can occur on printed media by virtue of surface patterns. 
       Illustrative Fluid Puddle Limiting 
       [0032]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 3 , which depicts a dispense head operating scenario (scenario)  300 . The scenario  300  is illustrative and non-limiting in nature. Other dispense heads or fluid dispensing heads having other respective characteristics or operating in accordance with other scenarios can also be used. 
         [0033]    The scenario includes a portion of a dispense head  302  having a plurality of nozzles  304 . The respective nozzles  304  are in fluid communication with a fluid slot (or conduit)  306  defined within the dispense head  302 . Each nozzle  304  is configured to controllably eject fluid onto another entity in accordance with electrical signaling sent to a corresponding firing resistor. 
         [0034]    The dispense head  302  also includes or defines a rectangular channel  308  and a rectangular channel  310 . Each of the respective channels  308  and  310  is spaced apart from the nozzles  304  and extends into the solid material of the dispense head  302 . The channels  308  and  310  collectively define a surface pattern  312 . In particular, the surface pattern  312  defines respective step-changes in the otherwise planar surface  314  of the dispense head  302 . 
         [0035]    During typical normal operation of the dispense head  302 , a fluid puddle eventually forms on the surface  314  and spreads outwardly away from the nozzles  304  until reaching the respective channels  308  and  310 . Surface tension and the step-changes in surface contour function to limit the overall fluid puddle size and volume, as illustrated by the fluid puddle profile  316 . The limited puddle contour  316  is characterized by a maximum height H 1  and a maximum width W 1 . 
         [0036]    A fluid puddle  318  is also depicted. The fluid puddle  318  is illustrative of the sort of fluid pooling that can occur if the surface pattern  312  is omitted, and the surface  314  were essentially planar from edge-to-edge. The fluid puddle profile  318  is substantially larger in both maximum height H 2  and maximum width W 2  than H 1  and W 1 , respectively, of the fluid puddle profile  316 . Thus, the dispense head  302  is characterized by fluid puddle limiting during normal operation by virtue of the surface pattern  312 . 
       First Illustrative Surface Pattern 
       [0037]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which depicts an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head  400 . The dispense head  400  and features thereof are illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other dispense heads having other respective features are also contemplated by the present teachings. The dispense head  400  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0038]    The dispense head  400  includes a solid material defining a die  402 . The die  402  is formed or processed by way of photolithography or another suitable process to define a plurality of nozzles  404 . Each of the nozzles  404  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  406  into the dispense head  400 . Each nozzle  404  is configured to direct or channel ejections of fluid onto another entity during normal typical operation of the dispense head  400 . 
         [0039]    The dispense head  400  is characterized by a channel  408 . The channel  408  is linear in a length-wise aspect and extends from the outer surface  406  into the solid material of the die  402 . The channel  408  is also characterized by a rectangular cross-sectional form such that square-edged or step-change features  410  are defined about the periphery. The channel  408  can be formed in the die  402  by way of photolithography, laser ablation, or another suitable process. 
         [0040]    The channel  408  is spaced apart from, yet relatively proximate to, the row of nozzles  404 . The channel  408  functions to limit a size or volume of fluid puddling on the outer surface  406  during normal operation. The channel  408  defines, or is a portion of, a surface pattern  412  defined by the die  402 . 
       Second Illustrative Surface Pattern 
       [0041]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 5 , which depicts an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head  500 . The dispense head  500  and features thereof are illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other dispense heads having other respective features are also contemplated by the present teachings. The dispense head  500  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0042]    The dispense head  500  includes a solid material defining a die  502 . The die  502  is formed or processed by way of photolithography or another suitable process to define a plurality of nozzles  504 . Each of the nozzles  504  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  506  into the dispense head  500 . Each nozzle  504  is configured to direct ejections of fluid onto another entity during normal typical operation of the dispense head  500 . 
         [0043]    The dispense head  500  also includes or is characterized by a channel  508  and a channel  510 . Each of the channels  508  and  510  is defined by a linear length-wise aspect and extends from the outer surface  506  into the solid material of the die  502 . Each channel  508  and  510  is also characterized by a rectangular cross-sectional such that square-edge or step-change features  512  are defined about the respective peripheries. The channels  508  and  510  can be respectively formed by way of photolithography, laser ablation, or another suitable process. 
         [0044]    The channels  508  and  510  are parallel to each other and are disposed in spaced adjacency to the respective nozzles  504 . The channels  508  and  510  function to limit a size or volume of fluid puddling on the outer surface  506  during normal operation of the dispense head  500 . The channels  508  and  510  collectively define, or are portions of, a surface pattern  514 . 
       Third Illustrative Surface Pattern 
       [0045]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which depicts an isometric-like view of a portion of a dispense head  600 . The dispense head  600  and features thereof are illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other dispense heads having other respective features are also contemplated by the present teachings. The dispense head  600  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0046]    The dispense head  600  includes a solid material defining a die  602 . The die  602  is formed or processed by way of photolithography or another suitable process to define a plurality of nozzles  604 . Each nozzle  604  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  606  into the dispense head  600 . Each nozzle  604  is configured to direct ejections of fluid onto another entity during normal typical operation of the dispense head  600 . 
         [0047]    The dispense head  600  is characterized by a plurality of annular channels  608 . Each annular channel  608  is defined by a ring-like void disposed about a respective one of the nozzles  604 . Also, each annular channel  608  extends from the outer surface  506  into the solid material of the die  502 . Each of the annular channels  608  is formed such that square-edge or step-change features  610  are defined about the respective peripheries. 
         [0048]    The annular channels  608  can be formed by way of photolithography, laser ablation, or another suitable process. Each annular channel  608  functions to limit a size or volume of fluid puddling on the outer surface  606  during normal operation of the dispense head  600 . The annual channels  608  collectively define, or are portions of, a surface pattern  612 . 
       Fourth Illustrative Surface Pattern 
       [0049]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 7 , which depicts a plan view of a portion of a dispense head  700 . The dispense head  700  and features thereof are illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other dispense heads having other respective features are also contemplated by the present teachings. The dispense head  700  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0050]    The dispense head  700  includes a solid material defining a die  702 . The die  702  is formed or processed by way of photolithography or another suitable process to define a plurality of nozzles  704 . Each of the nozzles  704  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  708  into the die  702  and is in fluid communication with a fluid slot  706 . 
         [0051]    The dispense head  700  also includes or is characterized by a plurality of respective channels  710 . Each channel  710  is defined by a linear length-wise aspect and each extends from the outer surface  708  into the solid material of the die  702 . Each channel  710  is also characterized by a rectangular cross-sectional form such that square-edge or step-change features  712  are defined about the respective peripheries. The channels  710  can be respectively formed by way of photolithography, laser ablation, or another suitable process. 
         [0052]    The channels  710  are parallel to each other and are disposed in spaced adjacency to the respective nozzles  704 . The channels  710  function to limit a volume of fluid puddling on the outer surface  708  during normal operation of the dispense head  700 . The channels  710  collectively define, or are portions of, a surface pattern  714 . 
       Fifth Illustrative Surface Pattern 
       [0053]    Attention is now turned to  FIG. 8 , which depicts a plan view of a portion of a dispense head  800 . The dispense head  800  and features thereof are illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other dispense heads having other respective features are also contemplated by the present teachings. The dispense head  800  can be applied in various suitable contexts such as, without limitation, pharmaceuticals testing, inkjet printing, laboratory analysis, and so on. 
         [0054]    The dispense head  800  includes a solid material defining a die  802 . The die  802  is formed or processed by way of photolithography or another suitable process to define a plurality of nozzles  804 . Each of the nozzles  804  is an aperture extending from an outer surface  806  into the die  802 . The nozzles  804  are also in fluid communication with a fluid slot  808  defined within the die  802 . 
         [0055]    The dispense head  800  also includes or is characterized by a plurality of respective channels  810 . Each channel  810  is defined by a linear length-wise aspect and each extends from the outer surface  806  into the solid material of the die  802 . Each channel  810  is also characterized by a rectangular cross-sectional form such that square-edge or step-change features  812  are defined about the periphery thereof. The channels  810  can be respectively formed by way of photolithography, laser ablation, or another suitable process. 
         [0056]    The channels  810  are parallel to each other and are disposed in very close adjacency to the respective nozzles  804 . In particular, the channels  810  are disposed as pairs, each member of a pair being on a respective side of a row of nozzles  804 . Thus, a total of four channels  810  are disposed about two rows of nozzles  804 . The channels  810  function to limit a size or volume of fluid puddling on the outer surface  806  during normal operation of the dispense head  800 . The channels  810  collectively define, or are portions of, a surface pattern  814 . 
       Illustrative Dispensing Apparatus 
       [0057]    Reference is now made to  FIG. 9 , which depicts a block diagram of a dispensing apparatus (apparatus)  900 . The apparatus  900  is illustrative and non-limiting with respect to the present teachings. Other apparatus, printers, fluid dispensers or systems can also be defined and used. 
         [0058]    The apparatus  900  includes a controller  902 . The controller  902  is configured to control various normal operations of the apparatus  900  including, in accordance with respective embodiments, dispensing patterns of fluid onto a wellplate, printing images or indicia onto a media, and so on. The controller  902  can be defined by any suitable electronic circuitry and can include, without limitation, a processor, a microcontroller, a state machine, digital or analog or hybrid circuitry, and so on. 
         [0059]    The apparatus  900  also includes a dispense head  904  in accordance with the present teachings. Thus, the dispense head  904  is analogous to any one of the dispense heads described above and includes a surface pattern. The dispense head  904  is coupled to a source of fluid  906  (e.g., liquid ink, DMSO, compound(s) dissolved in DMSO, or another) and is configured to dispense patterns of the fluid or fluids onto a receiving entity  908  in response to signals provided by the controller  902 . In one example, the dispense head  904  is configured to dispense a liquid ink  906  onto paper media  908 . In another example, the dispense head  904  is configured to dispense selected amounts of a dissolved compounds  906  into respective receptacles of a wellplate  908 . Other examples are also contemplated. 
         [0060]    The apparatus  900  also includes a user interface  910  coupled to the controller  902 . The user interface  910  can be defined by or include pushbuttons, a keyboard, indicating lights, an audible annunciator, a display screen, and so on. Other suitable constituency can also be used. The apparatus  900  further includes other resources  912 . Non-limiting examples of such other resources  912  include a power supply, network communications circuitry, wireless communications resources, document scanning resources, wellplate or media transporting or handling mechanisms, and so on. Other suitable resources can also be included. 
         [0061]    An illustrative and non-limiting operation of the apparatus  900  is as follows: An electronic data file representing a wellplate dispense pattern is received at the controller  902 . The controller  902  provides electronic control signaling to the dispense head  904  according to the wellplate dispense pattern. The dispense head  904  responds by controlled ejection of fluid into the wellplate  908  so as to perform the requested dispensing operation. The required fluid media is drawn from the fluid reservoir  906 . 
         [0062]    A fluid puddle progressively forms on the dispense head  904  during the course of the fluid dispensing operation. However, a surface pattern (e.g.,  814 ) functions to limit fluid puddle growth such that non-dispensed drops or other dispensing failures are reduced or eliminated. The dispensing operation is eventually completed and the wellplate  908  can be taken from the apparatus  900  by a user. 
       Illustrative Method 
       [0063]    Reference is made now to  FIG. 10 , which depicts a flow diagram of a method according to the present teachings. The method of  FIG. 10  includes particular operations and order of execution. However, other methods including other operations, omitting one or more of the depicted operations, and/or proceeding in other orders of execution can also be used according to the present teachings. Thus, the method of  FIG. 10  is illustrative and non-limiting in nature. Reference is also made to  FIGS. 1 and 9  in the interest of understanding the method of  FIG. 10 . 
         [0064]    At  1000 , a dispense head is fabricated having a surface pattern. For purposes of a present example, a silicon substrate is formed or processed so as to define a die  102 . The die  102  includes a plurality of nozzles  104 , internal firing chambers  112  and an internal fluid slot  114 . The die  102  further includes a surface pattern  120  defined by a channel  116  and a channel  118 , respectively. 
         [0065]    At  1002 , a dispensing apparatus is assembled having the dispense head. For purposes of the present example, a dispensing apparatus  900  is assembled that includes the dispense head  904 . The dispense head  904  is defined by or includes the die  102  fabricated at step  1000  above. The dispensing apparatus  900  further includes other constituency as desired. 
         [0066]    At  1004 , normal dispensing operations are performed using the dispense head. Under the present example, the dispensing apparatus  900  is operated normally so as to dispense fluid  906  onto a receiving entity  908  using the dispense head  904 . Thus, a fluid  906  (e.g., liquid ink, dissolved compounds, and so on) is controllably ejected on to the entity  908  (e.g., paper media, a wellplate, and so on) by way of the nozzles  104  of the die  102 . 
         [0067]    At  1006 , fluid puddle volume is limited by way of the surface pattern. For purposes of the present example, a fluid puddle that forms on the dispense head  904  is limited in size (volume and/or coverage area) by surface tension-interaction with the surface pattern  120 . Dispensing failures or other undesirable effects are reduced or eliminated by way of the surface pattern  120 . 
         [0068]    In general, and without limitation, the present teachings contemplate dispense heads having respective surface patterns and their use. A solid material such as silicon or another suitable material is processed by photolithography, laser ablation or another process to define a dispense head (or die) characterized by nozzles and other features. The dispense head is also characterized by an outer surface adjacent to and generally surrounding the plurality of fluid-ejection nozzles. 
         [0069]    A surface pattern characterized by one or more voids is defined in the solid material of the dispense head. The surface pattern can include linear channels (or trenches), annular channels (or rings) or other geometries that extend from the outer surface into the solid material of the dispense head. In particular, each feature of the surface pattern is defined by a rectangular (or nearly so) cross-sectional shape such that square-edged or step-change features are defined about the periphery. 
         [0070]    The resulting deviations in the otherwise planar outer surface of the dispense head attributable to the surface pattern function to limit a spread or volume of fluid puddling that forms during normal operations. Limited fluid puddling reduces or eliminates dispensing errors, undesirable printing artifacts, or the transfer of spurious quantities of fluid onto a receiving entity. 
         [0071]    In general, the foregoing description is intended to be illustrative and not restrictive. Many embodiments and applications other than the examples provided would be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the above description. The scope of the invention should be determined, not with reference to the above description, but should instead be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is anticipated and intended that future developments will occur in the arts discussed herein, and that the disclosed systems and methods will be incorporated into such future embodiments. In sum, it should be understood that the invention is capable of modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.