Patent Publication Number: US-6908082-B2

Title: Method and system for providing sheet stack level control

Description:
This application is a divisional of application Ser No. 09/777,947 filed Feb. 6, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,747. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This present invention relates to a system and method for providing paper stack level control in a reproduction apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In typical reproduction devices, such as copiers or printers, for example, information is reproduced on individual cut sheets of receiver material such as plain bond or transparencies. Receiver sheets, of the various types, are stored in stacks and respectively fed seriatim from such stacks when copies are to be reproduced thereon. The sheet feeder for the reproduction devices should be able to handle a wide range of sheet types and sizes reliably and without damage. Desirably, the sheets are accurately fed individually from the sheet stack, that is, without misfeeds or multi-feeds. 
     Reproduction device sheet feeders are typically of two types, vacuum feeders or friction feeders. However, of the two types, friction feeders are typically the least reliable, because sheet materials exhibit a wide variation in friction characteristics. Nevertheless, an exemplary vacuum sheet feeder is shown in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,133, issued Sep. 6, 1994, in the name of Jantsch et al. In such an apparatus, a stack of sheets is stored in a supply hopper. A sheet feed head assembly, including a plenum, a vacuum source in flow communication with the plenum, and a mechanism, such as a feed belt associated with the plenum, urges a sheet acquired by vacuum in a sheet feeding direction away from the sheet supply stack. 
     Typically, in most vacuum sheet feeders, the sheet supply stack is supported to maintain the topmost sheet at the feed head assembly. A first positive air supply then directs a flow of air at the sheet supply stack to levitate the top several sheets in the supply stack to an elevation enabling the topmost sheet to be acquired by vacuum from the sheet feed head assembly plenum. Additionally, a second positive air supply typically directs a flow of air at an acquired sheet to assure separation of any additional sheets adhering to such topmost sheet. 
     It is clear that the sheet stack should be maintained in operative relation with the sheet feed head assembly to assure desired feed from the stack. An exemplary control of a sheet stack is shown in a U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,527, issued Oct. 20, 1998, in the name of Burlew et al. In such an apparatus, a sheet feeder is disclosed having a platform for supporting a stack of sheets, a feed head assembly for feeding sheets seriatim from the top of a sheet supply stack on the platform, a mechanism for moving the platform relative to the feed head assembly, and device for controlling operation of the platform moving mechanism. The control device can determine a selected parameter in response to examination of sheet stack parameters, and consequently produce a signal corresponding thereto. The speed of the platform moving mechanism is then set based on the parameter signal. 
     In a typical vacuum sheet feeder, a portion of the stack is usually first lifted or “fluffed” and then sheets are fed off this fluffed group, singularly. At some point in time, the height of the top of the fluffed group is preferably low enough to allow for a paper level sensor to deactuate, and thus, signal a lift command to the motor. Generally, this occurs prior to feeding the last sheet of that fluffed group. If not, more sheets are lifted off the top of the unfluffed portion of the stack. 
     However, for certain types of receivers, it has been found for most notably heavyweight paper with poorly cut edges that a portion of the top of the stack is sometimes lifted, such that the level sensors remain actuated, even as the fluffed portion is being fed. Once this fluffed portion is fed, the next sheet will not be pre-separated from the rest of the stack, and consequently, the top of the remaining stack will be a greater distance below the vacuum plenum than is desired. This can lead to an undesirable increase in the probability of feed errors. 
     The embodiments described herein allow for more effectively controlling the level of a sheet stack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Addressing the problems with paper feeder supplies in reproduction devices described above, the present embodiments provide the ability to more effectively control a paper stack in a reproduction apparatus. The exemplary embodiments disclose a system and method capable of increasing the efficiency of reproduction machines. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, the level control is characterized and accordingly an additional lift command is injected whenever the behavior indicates it is necessary. The number of sheets fed since a primary increment is counted and compared to a known feeds per increment. If the number of sheets fed is greater than the feeds per increment, a secondary increment is generated. In the exemplary embodiment, the primary increment includes initiation by one or more switches, whereas the secondary increment includes initiation by a signal in response to the number of sheets fed since the primary increment. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the number of feeds per increment is calculated. A sample period of primary increments and the number of feeds are determined during the sample period. The known feeds per increment is calculated by dividing the number of feeds by the number of primary increments in the sample period. In the exemplary embodiment, the known feeds per increment is determined and utilized to assess when a secondary increment should be initiated. 
     The present invention provides a number of advantages and applications as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Utilizing the disclosed embodiments, the present invention allows increased probability of feeding sheets when the receivers have a tendency to stick together during the pre-separation and fluffing phase. Additionally, the embodiments can provide for better control of the top level of the unfluffed portion of the stack, which may improve the feed performance for some receivers. The exemplary embodiments utilize level control characterization and accordingly inject additional increments, as needed. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present embodiments will be apparent from the following more particular description of exemplary embodiments of the system and the method as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an exemplary receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus of  FIG. 1 , with portions removed or broken away to facilitate viewing; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a cross-section of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 , particularly showing the platform elevating mechanism; 
         FIG. 4  is an end view, on an enlarged scale and with portions removed, of a portion of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus, particularly showing the feed head assembly thereof, taken along the lines  4 — 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary state machine diagram utilized by the exemplary receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for calculating a feeds per increment in accordance with the present embodiments; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for generating an increment in accordance with the present embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present embodiments described herein, provide the ability to more effectively control a paper stack in a reproduction device. The system and method have been implemented in a reproduction device utilizing a top feed vacuum feeder. However, it should be understood that the present embodiments can be implemented in a reproduction device that utilizes other types of feeders, including variations of the vacuum feeder or a friction feeder. Thus, the exemplary embodiments disclose a system and method that can be utilized to increase the efficiency for any type of reproduction machine. 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of an exemplary receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus that utilizes the present embodiments. The receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus  10  generally includes an open hopper  12  and an elevating platform  14  for supporting a stack of sheets. The sheet stack (not shown) supported on the platform  14  contains individual sheets suitable, for example, for serving as receiver sheets for having reproductions formed thereon in a copier or printer device. Sheets for receiving reproductions may be selected from a wide variety of materials and sizes. For example, the sheets may be of a weight in the range of 49 grams per square meter (“gsm”) to 300 gsm index, and a size in the range of 8×10 inches to 14×18 inches. 
     The sheet stack supporting platform  14  is supported within the hopper  12  for substantially vertical elevational movement by a lifting mechanism (“L”). Preferably, the lifting mechanism L serves to raise the platform  14  to an elevation for maintaining the topmost sheet in the stack at a predetermined level during operation of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus  10 , and to lower the platform to permit adding sheets thereto. The lifting mechanism L may include a motor (“M 1 ”), attached to the outside of the upstanding front wall of the hopper  12 . Preferably, the motor M 1  rotates a gear set  16  mounted on a shaft  18  extending from the upstanding rear wall of the hopper. A pair of sprocket mounted lifting chains  20  are respectively interconnected by gears with the shaft  18  to be moved about a closed loop path when the shaft  18  is rotated by the motor M 1 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the sheet stack supporting platform  14  is shown in its lowest position in phantom. 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus of  FIG. 1 , with portions removed or broken away to facilitate viewing of a sheet feed head assembly  30 . The sheet feed head assembly  30  is generally located in association with the hopper  12 , so as to extend over a portion of the platform  14  in spaced relation to a sheet stack supported thereon. The sheet feed head assembly  30  includes a ported plenum  32  connected to a vacuum source V, and an air jet device  40  connected to a positive pressure air source P. Preferably, the positive pressure air jet from the air jet device  40  levitates the top several sheets in the supported sheet stack  50 , while the vacuum at the plenum  32  is effective through its ports to cause the topmost levitated sheet from the stack to thereafter be acquired at the plenum  32  for separation from the sheet stack. Additional positive pressure air jets from the air jet device  40  helps to assure separation of subsequent sheets from the acquired topmost sheet. To further assure separation of sheets from the sheet stack, the lifting mechanism (for example, L in  FIG. 1 ) preferably presents the top sheet a specified distance from the vacuum plenum  32 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a cross-section of the exemplary receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus  10  taken along lines  3 — 3  of  FIG. 2 , particularly showing the platform lifting mechanism. Each of the lifting chains have a link  22  extending through respective slots  12   a  ( FIG. 1 ) in the front and rear upstanding walls of the hopper  12 . The links  22  are connected to respective first sprockets  24  mounted on a shaft  24   a  supported in brackets  24   b  extending from the underside of the platform  14 . Tension cables  26  are respectively connected, at the ends  26   a ,  26   b  thereof, to the front and rear upstanding wall of the hopper  12 . The cables are respectively threaded over their associated first sprockets  24  and under second sprockets  28  mounted on a shaft  28   a  supported in the brackets  28   b  extending from the underside of the platform  14 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the sheet stack supporting platform  14  is shown in its most elevated position in solid lines, and in its lowest position in phantom. During the operation of the lifting mechanism L, an appropriate signal to the motor M 1  causes the motor to rotate the gear set  16  (FIG.  1 ), such as either clockwise to lower the platform  14  toward the lowest position or counterclockwise to raise the platform toward its most elevated position. Rotation of the gear set  16  moves the lifting chains  20  ( FIG. 1 ) in their closed loop paths, thereby imparting vertical movement to the links  22 . This movement, in turn, moves the shaft  24   a , and thus the platform  14 , and as well as its brackets  24   b  and first sprockets  24 . The platform  14  is maintained substantially level in its movement by the action of the tension cables  26 , which cooperatively move the second sprockets  28 , and thus, the shaft  28   a  and the brackets  28   b  of the platform. 
       FIG. 4  is an end view, on an enlarged scale and with portions removed, of a portion of the receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus  10 , particularly showing the feed head assembly  30  thereof, taken along the lines  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . Preferably, maintaining the topmost sheet at the predetermined level is accomplished by one or more sheet detecting switches  80 , which controls the operation of the motor M 1  for actuating the lifting mechanism L, (more described below), to raise the platform  14  through a predetermined increment. On the other hand, lowering of the platform  14  is usually accomplished by some externally produced signal to the motor which tells the motor to rotate until the platform  14  reaches a down switch that signals the motor to stop, often bringing the platform  14  to its lowest position. 
     Of course, other precisely controllable lifting mechanisms, such as worm gears, lead screws, or scissor linkages are suitable for use in the elevation control for the sheet stack supporting platform  14  according to these embodiments. 
     Preferably, the lower surface  32   a  of the plenum  32  of the sheet feed head assembly  30  has a particularly configured shape, so as to provide for a specific corrugation of an acquired sheet. As the top sheets in the supported sheet stack are levitated, the topmost sheet preferably contacts the outer winged portions  32   b  of the surface  32   a . A minimal pressure is exerted on the sheet to help in forming a controlled corrugation to the sheet. This establishes a consistent spacing for the center portion of the sheet from the center portion of the plenum  32 . As such, the access time for a sheet to be acquired at the plenum is often repeatably consistent and readily predictable. 
     The interactions of the plenum  32  and the air jet device  40  attempt to assure that control over the sheet, as it is acquired at the plenum  32 , is not lost. Further, corrugation of the sheet contorts the sheet in an unnatural manner. Since subsequent sheets are not subjected to the same forces, at the same time, as is the topmost sheet, such subsequent sheets are unable to contort in the same manner. Accordingly, the subsequent sheets are effectively separated from the topmost sheet as it is being acquired at the plenum  32 . 
     As noted above, it is important for proper operation of the sheet supply and feeding apparatus  10 , according to this embodiment, for the level of the topmost sheet in the stack supported on the platform  14  to be maintained at a predetermined height relative to the plenum  32 . The level is selected to be in a range where the topmost sheet, when levitated by the first air jet arrangement  42 , is close enough to the plenum  32  to be readily acquired by the vacuum forces from the plenum  32 , within a repeatable time frame, but yet far enough away from the plenum  32  to assure that the sheet being acquired is not pinned by the plenum  32 . 
     Preferably, each of the switches  80 , as noted above, are designed to detect the level of the topmost sheet. Such switches  80 , as known in the art, could be for example, a paper guide that rides against the sheet with very little downward pressure, at the highest level of acceptable corrugation, as found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,527, in the name of Burlew et al. Additionally, paper level actuators could be integrated into an optical switch so as to cause limited pressure on the sheet. The switches  80  can be read during the feed interval, and if necessary, will transmit a signal to the lifting mechanism L to raise the platform  14  in one or more increments, hereinafter referred to as primary increments. Preferably the primary increments can maintain the proper sheet level. The location of the switches  80  at the highest level of acceptable corrugation is an advantage in that each of the switches  80  can sense the location of sheets which may be severely curled and still not pin the sheet to the plenum  32 . It should be understood that other types of switch or switches, as known in the art, may be utilized to generate a primary increment, such as sensors that can detect the weight of the sheet stack, and in response to the detected weight generate a primary increment, etc. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 1 , to further assure separation of sheets from the sheet stack, the lifting mechanism L can present the top sheet a desirable distance from the vacuum plenum, in response to a second signal that originates from a secondary source  90  other than the switches  80 , such as by a microprocessor executing source code, or hardware logic. However, before the lifting mechanism L initiates a lift due to the second signal, the level control is characterized, preferably at the start of a reproduction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the second signal initiates additional lift commands, referred to hereinafter as a secondary increment, whenever the behavior, based on the characterized level control, indicates that the incremental lifts are necessary. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary state machine  70  diagram utilized by the exemplary receiver sheet supply and feeding apparatus of FIG.  1 . The state machine  70  diagram helps illustrate an exemplary method for generating a second signal to initiate a platform  14  lift, or equivalently for purposes of illustration, a secondary increment. Preferably, the secondary increments are utilized to maintain an appropriate position of the top of the sheet stack, when, for example, one of the switches  80 , mistakes the level of the actual top sheet stack. In this diagram, the transitions between the states are indicated by directed lines connecting the states. To perform secondary increments, the level control initiated by either of the switches  80  is preferably characterized in the Sampling state  74 , while the Controlling state  76  can preferably implement the appropriate secondary increments as needed. 
     Preferably, the process of initiating secondary increments can occur at any point in the reproduction process. Therefore, the system can enter into a Discarding state  72 , where it initializes, and preferably, resets any related data that has been previously accumulated. In the Discarding state  72 , the system may wait until some number of primary increments occur. Consequently, data associated with these primary increments are discarded, upon which, the system can enter the Sampling state  74 . 
     The Sampling state  74  can utilize stored or entered parameters including: the number of primary increments (i.e., switch  80  initiated increments) in a sample period (“P S ”), a step size scaling factor indicating a preferred secondary increment increase size (“P D ”), a sheet scaling factor indicating a preferred number of sheets before a secondary increment is initiated (“P M ”), and a preferred number of secondary increments that can occur in a row (“P C ”). 
     Although the parameters can be determined or set to be any desired number, in an exemplary embodiment, P S  is set to three primary increments in one sample period, P D  is set to one-half to indicate that a secondary increment is two times greater in magnitude than a primary increment, P M  is set to two to indicate that two times more sheets are fed than typical before a primary increment is performed, and P C  is set to three to indicate that three secondary increments can occur in a row. It should be understood, however, that the parameters described above can be set or determined to any desired number, and furthermore, can be adjusted to achieve a variety of desired paper level control results. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, each of the parameters are stored in a memory storage device, such as in random access memory (“RAM”) or in read only memory (“ROM”). To enter the parameters, each can be previously set to a fixed number, such as in software or hardware, or the parameters can be dynamically entered through an input, such as a keypad or dial, which may be located on the reproduction apparatus (not shown). 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the Sampling state  74  duration is preferably specified as a number of primary increments, and is preferably given by the parameter P S . During this Sampling state  74 , data is collected that can be used to characterize the level control for a sheet stack. Included in this data collection is the number of sheets fed during the sample period, F S , and the total number of primary increments taken during the sample period, P S . From the collected data, the average number of sheets fed before a primary increment occurs can be calculated by dividing F S  by P S . Then, in the Controlling state  76 , if the above calculated average number of sheets fed before a primary increment is exceeded, a secondary increment could be generated. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, however, a secondary increment may be generated when a specified number of sheets fed since the last primary increment has occurred. This specified number of sheets fed, referred to as F, can also be calculated in the Sampling state  74  by the following relation: 
       F   =       [       (       F   S     ⁢     P   M       )     +     (       P   S     /   2     )       ]       P   S           
 
where F S  is the number of feeds during the sample period, P S  is the plurality of primary increments in a sample period, and P M  is a scaling factor. In this embodiment, P M  can be used, if desired, as a scaling factor to cause the secondary increment to occur less often than would typically occur under a primary increment. So, for example, according to the previously described exemplary embodiment, where P M  is set to two, the number of sheet feeds that occurred during the sample period is effectively two times what was previously measured during the sample period.
 
     In another exemplary embodiment, a secondary increment can be equal, less, or larger in magnitude than a typical primary increment. This specified size of the secondary increment size, such as determined in the Sampling state  74 , by the following relation: 
       S   =       [       (       S   S     -     S   E       )     +     (       (       P   S     ⁢     P   D       )     /   2     )       ]         P   S     ⁢     P   D             
 
where S S  is the elevator counter at the sample start, S E  is the elevator counter at the sample end, P S  is the plurality of primary increments in a sample period, and P D  is a scaling factor. In this embodiment, P D  can be used, if desired, as a scaling factor to cause the size of the secondary increment to be equal, less, or greater in magnitude than would often occur under a primary increment. So, for example, according to the previously described exemplary embodiment, where P D  is set to one-half, the magnitude of the secondary increment would be two times greater in magnitude than would normally occur under a primary increment.
 
     The following is an exemplary description of the process of the above-described Discarding state  72  and Sampling state  74 . At the start of a reproduction process, from a given sheet stack, the average number of sheets fed between incrementing the platform  14  is preferably determined. This can be accomplished by counting the number of sheets fed after the original primary increment until a specified later primary increment. Preferably, the original primary increment counted is discarded, because it tends to be abnormal, given that the paper level may be established prior to turning on the positive air source P, thus prior to the stack being fluffed. In an exemplary embodiment, the optimum value for the specified number of increments to use during the sampling period should be large enough to get a reasonably accurate average value, but small enough to enable the Controlling state  76  as soon as possible. 
     Likewise, when determining the average frequency of a primary increment, the average primary increment size can also be estimated. If a stepper motor is used, the average number of steps taken by the stepper motor can be accounted for on a per increment basis to determine the average primary increment size. If another motor or mechanism is used to drive the platform  14 , such as a DC motor, a similar mechanism, such as an encoder, potentiometer, or motor command duration, it could be used to estimate and control the amount the platform  14  is raised. For example, the potentiometer cooperating with the gear set  16  (FIG.  1 ), can produce a signal to indicate the instantaneous height of the platform  14 . It should be understood that estimating the average amount the platform  14  is raised during each primary increment would not necessarily be a requirement, but it could improve the accuracy of the disclosed process. 
     Once these averages are estimated, the lift motor M 1  can be commanded to raise the platform  14 , whenever the control is desired. For example, if twice the average number of sheets have been fed since the last increment, the lift motor M 1  could be commanded to raise the platform  14  an amount equal to an average increment size. Obviously, the frequency and increment size can be optimized for any given reproduction system, such as by using the scaling factors P D  and P M . 
     In addition, counting the number of sheets fed between increments preferably compensates for sheet thickness, as long as the sheet thickness does not vary throughout the sheet stack. Thus, this scheme can work as long as the paper in the supply is the same thickness. However, other methods, as known in the art, can be used to compensate for varying sheet thickness. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 5 , in the Controlling state  76 , a secondary increment can be initiated at any time, and is usually initiated in response to level control characteristics determined in the Sampling state  74 . Furthermore, as described above, a secondary increment can occur many times in a row, which can be given by the parameter, P c . Thus, in the Controlling state  76 , the system can enable secondary increments that may change both in frequency and in magnitude. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for generating a secondary increment in accordance with the present embodiments. In step  150 , the number of sheets fed since the last primary increment is counted. Per step  154 , this number is compared to a known sheets fed before a primary increment occurs, such as described above. This could have been calculated or input during the Sampling state  74 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, however, the known sheets fed per increment is equal to the calculated F, where 
       F   =       [       (       F   S     ⁢     P   M       )     +     (       P   S     /   2     )       ]       P   S           
 
and where F S  is the number of feeds during the sample period, P S  is the plurality of primary increments in a sample period, and P M  is a scaling factor. In this embodiment, the number of sheets fed since the last primary increment is then compared to F.
 
     In step  158 , a secondary increment is generated if the number of sheets fed since the last primary increment is greater than or equal to the known sheets fed per increment. In the exemplary embodiment, the size of the increment is given by the relationship: 
       S   =       [       (       S   S     -     S   E       )     +     (       (       P   S     ⁢     P   D       )     /   2     )       ]         P   S     ⁢     P   D             
 
where S S  is the elevator counter at the sample start, S E  is the elevator counter at the sample end, P S  is the plurality of primary increments in a sample period, and P D  is a scaling factor.
 
     If the receiver type is identified, one could chose to revert to earlier or input data for that receiver type rather than recalculating the average sheets between increment and increment size, if so desired. This would enable the benefits for a secondary increment immediately for any paper type that has previously been run. 
     It should be understood that the disclosed embodiments can be utilized in a variety of different ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the secondary increments may be used to maintain the topmost sheet at the predetermined level, while the primary increments, such as switch  80  initiated increments, could be used as a backup to the secondary increments. Thus, according to this example, in the event the secondary increment neglects initiating an increment, the switches  80  might detect that an increment is necessary in order to maintain the topmost sheet at the predetermined level. 
     Furthermore, it should be understood that other types of receiver sheet supply and feeders can be used in accordance with the present embodiments. Thus, the parameters can be adjusted accordingly, by one skilled in the art using the teachings described herein, to accommodate the desired sheet supply and feeder. Additionally, the present embodiments can be tailored, by one skilled in the art, to accommodate the different device types that they are implemented on. 
     The present embodiments described herein, provide the ability to more effectively control a paper stack in a reproduction device, by initiating a secondary increment. The system and method have been implemented in a reproduction device utilizing a top feed vacuum feeder and switches  80  that generate a signal to indicate an increment. However, it should be understood that the present embodiments can be implemented in a reproduction device that utilizes other types of feeders and switches. 
     The disclosed embodiments provide a number of advantages and applications. Utilizing the disclosed embodiments, the present invention allows increased probability of feeding sheets when the receivers have a tendency to stick together during the pre-separation and fluffing phase. Additionally, the embodiments provide for better control of the top level of the unfluffed portion of the stack, which can improve the feed performance for some receivers. The exemplary embodiments utilize level control characterization and accordingly injects additional increments, as needed. 
     It should also be understood that the programs, processes, methods and systems described herein are not related or limited to any particular type of hardware, such as TTL logic or computer software, or both. Various types of general purpose or specialized processors, such as micro-controllers may be used with or perform operations in accordance with the teachings described herein. 
     In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which the principles of the present invention can be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention. For example, more or fewer elements may be used in the block diagrams and signals may include analog, digital, or both. While various elements of the preferred embodiments have been described as being implemented in hardware, in other embodiments in software implementations may alternatively be used, and vice-versa. 
     The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements unless stated to that effect. Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.