Patent Publication Number: US-2017358287-A1

Title: Detachable controller device for musical instruments

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/455,527, filed on Aug. 8, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 61/958,895, filed on Aug. 9, 2013, both of which incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to enhancing the functions of musical instruments and, more particularly, to devices that attach to musical instruments for enhancing and controlling the functionality of the musical instruments and to methods providing for operation of such devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Devices for the generation of sound have been in use for thousands of years and come in many styles and forms. More particularly, devices and instruments for the generation of sound that may be pleasing to the ear in what is termed music have been under development and use for many centuries. The guitar is one such musical instrument; and, while much of this disclosure discusses the guitar as an exemplary musical instrument, the invention discussed here is not limited to the guitar and can, in fact, be applied to many musical instruments, including other string instruments, percussion instruments, and wind instruments, for example and not limitation. 
     The development of the guitar has evolved over hundreds of years. Relatively recent advancements across the past few decades include incorporating electronic pickups into the guitar and connecting the guitar to an amplifier for enhanced and distributed playback of the music while the guitar is being strummed, plucked, struck, or otherwise played. This progress continued in various forms until the 1980&#39;s, when there became a desire to connect the instrument to digital computer systems for further enhanced playback and recording. This digital connection has been traditionally made using a common musical digital language known as Musical Instrument Digital Interface, abbreviated as “MIDI.” 
     MIDI is a music industry protocol standard used to communicate digital data between hardware devices and computers. The past few decades have seen many attempts to add MIDI control to guitars and other musical instruments. In the recent decade, digital music data communication has expanded from the MIDI protocol to similar systems such as Open Sound Control (“OSC”) protocol and proprietary serial data. Providing such protocol to music output from an instrument usually requires building digital control circuitry into the instrument. This is accomplished by either building a dedicated music instrument for digital control or permanently modifying an existing music instrument. These specialized builds commonly compromise the sound, function, and price of the instrument. 
     Historically, for an existing analog musical instrument to send signals conforming to the MIDI protocol, the instrument has to be permanently modified, either with a traditional MIDI pickup that converts string movement to MIDI signals or with digital controls and circuitry being built into the instrument. Including or adding the digital controls to the instruments often means that the instrument must be permanently modified by cutting or drilling to accommodate the controls and companion circuitry for the controls. These required modifications for a stringed instrument (or percussion or wind, for example) are both costly and leave the instrument as a dedicated digital instrument for digital play and playback, while leaving the instrument less desirable as a traditional analog instrument. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to certain embodiments, there is provided a detachable device for control of a musical instrument, including a housing attached to a musical instrument, the housing providing for a set of controls and circuitry, wherein the housing is attached without modifying the musical instrument and wherein the housing is attached without compromising the operation of the musical instrument; one or more user-operated controls contained in the housing, wherein the controls modify the play of music from the musical instrument; one or more sensors detecting orientation of the musical instrument; one or more sensors detecting movement of the musical instrument; and a clamp attaching the housing to the musical instruments, wherein the device can be detached from the musical instrument. 
     Certain embodiments further provide that the play of music is controlled based on the orientation of the instrument and that the play of music is controlled based on the motion of the instrument. Additional embodiments provide for the housing being attached to the instrument without modification of the musical instrument and the housing being removable from the instrument without tools. 
     According to particular embodiments, there is a method for controlling the play of music with a controller device attached to a musical instrument, including holding and playing a musical instrument, wherein a controller device is attached to the musical instrument; changing the orientation of the musical instrument, wherein the controller device detects the change in orientation of the musical instrument; generating, by the controller device, output control signals based on the detected change in orientation of the musical instrument; and controlling the play of music from the musical instrument based on the generated output control signals. 
     Particular embodiments further provide for controlling the generation of sound by the instrument based on changes in the orientation of the instrument. 
     Additional embodiments also provide for increasing the sound volume of the play of music as the pitch of the musical instrument is raised upward and decreasing the sound volume of the play of music as the pitch of the musical instrument is lowered downward. 
     In certain embodiments there is provided a method for controlling play of sound, including holding and playing a musical instrument, wherein a controller device is removably attached to the musical instrument; generating audio output signals from the instrument as the user is playing the instrument; manipulating controls on the controller device; generating, by the controller device, output control signals based on the user manipulation of the controls on the controller device; and controlling the play of sound from the musical instrument based on the generated output control signals. 
     Additional embodiments also provide for the output control signals controlling one or more of lighting, sound, playback, special effects, sound recording, and display. 
     In accordance with certain embodiments, there is provided a musical instrument control system, including a detachable controller attached to a musical instrument; one or more controls located on the detachable controller transmitting digital control signals upon manipulation by a user of the musical instrument; a computer receiving the transmitted digital control signals and processing the control signals into control messages; and equipment hardware receiving the control messages and controlling an equipment hardware function based on the control messages. 
     Particular embodiments further provide the equipment hardware function comprising one or more of lighting control, sound control, special effects control, sound recording control, and display control. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the specification, illustrate various embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments disclosed herein. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a detachable controller device attached to an electric guitar as an exemplary musical instrument. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a top view of the detachable controller device, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a top view of the detachable controller device showing an exemplary clamp that would attach the device to a musical instrument such as a guitar, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a angular view of the detachable controller device showing an exemplary clamp that would attach the device to a musical instrument such as a guitar, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the detachable controller device showing an exemplary clamp that would attach the device to a musical instrument such as a guitar, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a system utilizing the detachable controller device communicating with components of a music control/play system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Particular embodiments are directed to devices and methods for enhancing and controlling the functionality of musical instruments and the play of sound therefrom. This invention provides devices and methods for musicians playing an instrument such as a guitar to be able to control digital devices from the guitar itself without permanently modifying the traditional form of the guitar and to control effects related to the play of musical instruments. 
     In the following description, numerous specific details are presented. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known devices, structures, and methods have not been shown in detail in order to not obscure the understanding of this description. It will be appreciated, however, by one skilled in the art, that the invention may be practiced without such specific details. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the included descriptions, will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation. 
     While the invention will be described in connection with its preferred embodiments, including control based on the play of a guitar, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, exemplary embodiments can be applied to percussion instruments such as drums and cymbals and can be applied to wind instruments such as trumpets and saxophones. 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an exemplary application of a controller device  104  attached to the body  102  of an electric guitar  100 . While a guitar  100  is shown as the exemplary musical instrument whose playback of sound can be controlled with the device  104 , many other instruments and devices can be controlled by exemplary embodiments. For example and not limitation, a similar controller device  104  can be attached to a violin, a banjo, or a cello. Similarly, the controller device  104  can be configured to interface with the output from percussion and wind instruments to also serve to control the play and playback of sound generated by those musical instruments. 
     The controller device  104  can be attached to a musical instrument, such as a guitar  100 , and can be easily detached, i.e., removed, without permanent modification to the instrument. The device  104  is comprised of a set of controls with circuitry that is used to send digital signals to a computer or other hardware. By attaching to an instrument that otherwise would have no ability to transmit digital signals, this device  104  and methods can be used for music synthesis, special effects, vocal effects, software control of equipment, video and light manipulation, recording or loopback effectsor production from onboard the instrument itself. The player of the instrument, or the user, operates the instrument of the present invention by manipulating any number of possible controls on the device  104 , including switches, knobs, buttons, dials, faders, and touch surfaces. Additionally, the device  104  comprises sensors in the form of one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. The signals from the controls and sensors are transmitted as digital messages and sent either wirelessly or over a cable to any equipment or processor that can process the transmitted digital signals to control equipment, sound, light, and special effects, for example and not limitation. 
     The bridge  110  of the guitar serves as an anchor point for the strings  112 , which the player or user vibrates, strums, or plucks to generate sound (preferably music) from the guitar  100 . The analog pickups  114  are electronic coils used to detect string vibration and generate sound through an electronic signal. Volume/tone controls  116  are used to control the sound and intensity of the analog pickups  114 . 
     The controller device  104  is shown in  FIG. 1  as clamped to the guitar  100  with an arm  106  and shoe  108  of a clamp attaching and affixing the controller device  104  to the guitar  100 . The device  104  must be easily attachable and detachable but still have enough clamping strength to stay on the instrument where intended. In this manner, the device  104  can be attached and detached without tools or permanently modifying the instrument  100 . Accordingly, the clamp may be spring-loaded; and the shoe  108  may have a soft face for contacting the guitar body  102  to permit both ease of attachment and detachment and to avoid or at least minimize any damage to or scratching of the guitar body  102 . 
       FIG. 2A  shows a top view and controls  202  and  204  of the controller device  104 . Referring to both  FIG. 1  and also now to  FIG. 2A , there is shown the body or housing  105  of the controller device  104  as the main structure that holds all the different components and functional parts of the device  104 . The housing  105  should be both durable and low profile for playable addition to an instrument, such as the guitar  100 . The device body  105  can come in many shapes, sizes, and colors to conform to the musical instrument  100  to which it is attached and to accommodate the preferences of the user. Similarly, the housing  105  can be made of a number of materials, such as wood, plastic, metal, or rubber. The shape of the device housing  105  is adaptable to variable instrument body designs. Preferably, the housing  105  is designed to fit the shape of unused space of the musical instrument. As utilized herein the user is the individual playing the instrument. 
     The buttons  202  are used for on/off or pressure sensitive inputs. The user presses or taps the buttons  202  to trigger a digital event. The buttons  202  can be mechanical or membrane switches, force sensing resistors, carbon activated PCB contacts, or any other method of registering a press or touch. The slide controls  204  permit the user to create a linear variable value digital input. Commonly referred to as faders, these components are potentiometers and can be mechanical or touch faders. The user can effect direct digital control of media play without strumming or traditionally playing the instrument through manipulation of the controls  202  and  204  on the device  104  (such as, for example, buttons, switches, slide controls, potentiometers, faders, and variable dials and knobs) and through the sensors in and on the device  104 . These controls  202  and  204  are all assignable in software to provide any function necessary or desired by the user for controlling computer-based parameters for the play of music and the control of equipment. Optionally, the housing  105  can include a display, including a touch screen display, for the user to enter commands and receive information about the settings and operation of the musical instrument control system. 
     The detachable music controller device  104  is self-contained within a housing  105  and can be attached to a musical instrument  100  using several methods without modifying the instrument  100 . Through such a flexible design, a user can easily attach the controller device  104  to a musical instrument and thereby quickly, easily, and affordably add digital functionality to his or her instruments. Additionally, an easily detachable music controller device  104  allows the technology to be removed from the musical instrument without modifying or compromising the integrity or operation of the instrument, thereby leaving the instrument in the same condition as it was before the device  104  was added. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2B, 3, and 4 , there is shown additional views of the controller device  104 , with the inclusion of the arm  106  and shoe  108  of a clamping device for attaching or affixing the controller device  104  to the musical instrument, such as the guitar  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . The clamping device fits over the instrument body  102  and provides the pressure needed to keep the device  104  attached to the instrument body  102  when in use. The clamp can be made to be adjustable for many different applications. As discussed above, the arm  106  can be spring-loaded, and the shoe  108  can have a soft or non-mar surface for firmly attaching the device  104  to the instrument, but yet permitting ease of attachment and detachment while avoiding modification, damage, or scratches to the instrument itself. While these figures shown an exemplary design for removably attaching the device  104  to the instrument  100 , other techniques can be utilized to firmly place the device  104  on the instrument  100  for easy access and control by the user. For example, the device  104  could be affixed to the instrument  100  with a suction cup, adhesive, double-backed tape, or a hook and loop fastener such as a Velcro® product. Also, the instrument itself could be configured with a bracket or mounting system providing ease of attachment for a controller device  104  with a comparable matching bracket or mounting system so as to permit easy mating of the instrument  100  and the device  104 . Because of the self-contained design of the controller device  104 , the device  104  is not required to be located on a specific part of the instrument and is designed to fit multiple locations on the instrument. 
     The device  104  includes a control surface on the top of the housing  105  that comprises one or more buttons, switches, slide controls, potentiometers, faders, dials, and knobs  202  and  204 , not all of which are shown in  FIG. 1 . Within the housing are electric pickups and sensors, such as two- and three-axis accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. The control surface, pickups, and sensors are part of an assembly that is attached to digital circuitry within the device  104  that processes and converts the response or signals from the control surface components into MIDI, OSC, Human Interface Device (“HID”), or other serial data protocols and outputs a digital signal from the controller device  104 . The detachable controller device transmits the data signals, preferably wirelessly, to a computer or other hardware, which receives the data as a control input. 
     The device is powered by either a battery or a plug-in power source, either separately or through the instrument to which it is attached. All circuitry, controls, and power source are contained in the housing  105 . While not required, the housing  105  is preferably in a shape that fits the curves of the instrument on which it is placed, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The device housing  105  is sufficiently thin to not interfere with the playing area of the instrument but is substantial enough and close enough to the traditional playing areas that it is quickly accessible by the user utilizing slightly modified strumming and playing methods.  FIGS. 1 and 2A  show the placement of the device  104  in close proximity to where the user traditionally plays the instrument  100  and where typical user hand positions are for that particular instrument. 
     To operate the controller device  104 , the user will attach the device  104  to the instrument  100  in the desired position. See  FIG. 1 . In this example, the device&#39;s lower clamp arm  106  is slid over the lower horn of the guitar  100 . Care is taken to make sure the device  104  does not interfere with existing instrument controls, such as volume/tone controls  116 . Once the device  104  is attached, it is then powered up. The power-up process can be initiated by the user activating a switch on the device  104 , or can be automatically activated with the powering-up of the instrument  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown a musical instrument control system, whereby the controller device  104  on the instrument  100  communicates with one or more computers to control play or playback of the music from the instrument  100 . The personal computer  502 A, the tablet  502 B, and the smart cellular phone  502 C are representative of the computers with which the controller device  104  can communicate and send signals. Each of these computers  502 A- 502 C can in turn communicate (via the dotted lines shown in the figure) with other devices for the ultimate control and/or playback. For example, an amplifier  504  is shown, whereby the control signals are transmitted from the control device  104  to a computer  502 A, for example. The computer processes the signals and in turn sends control and command signals to the amplifier  504 , which controls music output from the speakers connected to it. In one embodiment, the device  504  controls lighting, and the signals from the control device  104  can control the lighting being used during a musical performance. In yet another embodiment, the control device  104  can communicate directly with the device  504  without the intermediate processing by the computer  502 A- 502 C. The hardware device  504  is envisioned to be one of many computer-controlled devices that can be controlled through the user-manipulated controls on the controller device  104  and the output signals from the sensors of the controller device  104 . For example, and not limitation, the equipment hardware device  504  can control such functions as lighting, sound, music playback, special effects, recording, and displays of information and images. 
     The communication of signals among the components of the musical instrument control system of  FIG. 5  is preferably wirelessly, such as through Bluetooth protocols, radio frequency, or a wireless network, including communication of signals between the instrument, such as the electric guitar  100  of  FIG. 1 , and the controller device  104 . Alternately, some or all of the components can be wired together. While the musical instrument control system of  FIG. 5  is typically confined to a single room or space, the inventive concepts of the system and the control device  104  are not so limited; and instruments can be controlled and music play can be controlled through a network where the components are out of a line of sight. 
     Through known communication signaling and handshaking protocols, all input connections are made; and the device  104  is connected to one or more of the exemplary computers  502 A- 502 C or other type of digital receiver and to equipment hardware  504 . The device  104  can include one or more processors, firmware, and memory, some of which is reserved as computer-readable, non-transient memory for storing software instructions that can control the operation of the controller device  104 . The software instructions, when executed by the computer and/or the processor can provide for the control and play of music as discussed below. The controller device  104  is further configured with an antenna or other wired or wireless connection device coupled to the processor for receiving and transmitting information, signals, and messages. 
     The device  104  sends and receives digital signals. In particular, the device  104  contains analog and/or digital controls that are converted to digital data in the form of MIDI, OSC, HID, or other digital serial data protocols and sent wirelessly to a computer  502 A- 502 C or other hardware device  504 . To send signals, the user manipulates the input controls  202  and  204  by pressing buttons and switches, reacting with sensors, turning potentiometers, or moving the instrument in space to be detected by one or more accelerometers, gyroscopes, or magnetometers. As the controls are manipulated, the device sends signals to its receiving computer  502 A, tablet  502 B, phone  502 C, or other smart device. The received signal can then be used to control computer software and manipulate sound, such as with sound production software on the computer  502 A- 502 C or the hardware device  504 . The device  104  can also receive signals for visual feedback to on-board indicators such as LED&#39;s, LCD screens, or other visual display and for setting parameters for the device  104  itself. 
     In addition to transmitting its own signals, the device  104  can be configured to process analog signals from the instrument  100  itself. Using an electric guitar  100 , for example, the analog output from the electric pickups could be communicated to the device  104 . The user would be able to modify the sound generated from the analog electric guitar  100  through manipulation of the control components  202  and  204  and process the sound into a transmitted digital signal to be used by a computer  502 A- 502 C or other digital processing equipment  504 . The device  104  can also incorporate a headphone or speaker monitoring system so that the user can hear the output of the instrument  100  in a self-contained on-board solution. 
     Typical user setups and use of the controller device  104  and musical instrument control system can involve one or more of a wireless peripheral device, such as a smart phone  502 C, a wireless host device, such as a personal computer  502 A, an instrument, such as a guitar  100 , a pre-amplifier, an effects processor (or recording unit), an effects modulation device, an amplifier, such as the equipment hardware  504 , and a speaker. In the embodiments discussed below, the software and components of the controller device  104  are capable of performing the functions of one or more of the wireless peripheral device, pre-amplifier, effects processor, effects modulation device, and amplifier. 
     One of the simplest setups and use of the controller device  104  involves control of the analog audio signal generated by the musical instrument  100 . In a typical use and play of a musical instrument, the analog audio signal generated by the instruments is passed wirelessly or by a hard connection to a preamplifier. The preamplifier increases the power of the audio signal and passes the signal to an effects processor (recording unit). The effects modulation device, while not processing the audio signal directly, can control and provide parameters to the effects processor, thereby controlling how the effects processor modifies the audio signal. The output of the effects processor is passed to an amplifier, which in turn increases the power of the audio signal and passes the resulting signal to a speaker for audio play. As will be explained below, the controller device  104  can take on or control the function of any of the above devices. In other words, the function of one or more of these devices can be integrated into the controller device  104 . 
     The controller device  104  and musical instrument control system also use digital signals for control of operations of the devices. A digital change control signal is transmitted by the effect modulation device and is received by the effects processor. The effects processor, as controlled by the change control signal, performs one or more of (1) modifying the state of the audio signal from the musical instrument, (2) recording part of the audio signal stream, and (3) outputting pre-recorded samples of an audio signal. The change control signal can also be received by the control device  104  to report or display the current settings of the effects modulation device to the user. 
     The change control signal initiated by the effects modulation device can be transmitted through a wireless peripheral device  502 B or  502 C to a wireless host device  502 A or  502 B to the effects processor. While each of these devices can be separate with hard-wired, networked, Bluetooth, or Wifi communication capability, the present embodiment provides for the functionality of one or more of these devices to be contained within the controller device  104 , wherein the user can set control parameters through input controls or display on the controller device  104  or provide the control parameters to the device  104  via an intelligent device such as a smart phone  502 C, tablet  502 B, or computer  502 A. 
     A digital control feedback signal is transmitted by the effects processor and is received by the effects modulation device. This signal is used to change the state of the effects modulation device to indicate the state of the effects processor to the user in real time through the display on the controller device  104 . The control feedback signal can be sent through one or more of a wireless host device  502 A or  502 B and a wireless peripheral device  502 B or  502 C and alternate communication paths, especially when one or more of these devices is not integrated into the controller device  104 . 
     User setups for the musical instrument control system can fall into several categories. Within each of these categories, the controller device  104  can include one port for charging its battery. Under a Control-Streaming Only configuration, the controller device  104  will include the functionality of the wireless peripheral device and the effects modulation device. Under this configuration, the controller device  104  is designed to interface with a wide variety of existing software and hardware products using standard communications protocols and connections. The controller device  104  transmits its output control signals separately from the audio output from the instrument  100 , and the output control signals control peripheral hardware, such as amplifiers, speakers, lighting, and the like without consideration of the particular audio signals being generated by the musical instrument  100 . 
     Under an Audio and Control Streaming configuration, the controller device  104  will include the functionality of the wireless peripheral device, the effects modulation device, the pre-amplifier, and the effects processor. Both the audio signals generated by the musical instrument  100  and the control signals transmitted by the controller device  104  can be streamed via a hard-wired or wireless connection directly to a Bluetooth host device, such as a powered Bluetooth speaker, Bluetooth headphones, a smart phone  502 C, a computer  502 A, or a USB Dongle to be played, recorded, monitored, amplified, or further processed, with the recording and processing controlled or modified based on the transmitted control signals. In this configuration, the controller device  104  can use one port to connect the audio signal generated by the musical instrument  100  with an internal pre-amplifier to boost the audio signal prior to transmission. 
     Under a Stand-Alone Audio and Control Streaming configuration, the controller device  104  will include the functionality of the wireless peripheral device, the pre-amplifier, the effects processor, the effects modulation device, and an amplifier comprising a wired headphones jack. In this embodiment, the user can listen to the generated music in real time through headphones as the music is controlled and modified by the settings and operation of the controller device  104 . This embodiment provides for user stand-alone sampling of the music being generated by the instrument  100  and controlled and modified by the controller device  104 , without any need for additional equipment. 
     In one embodiment, the user can control the play of music and the control of other devices simply by moving the instrument in space. For example, raising the instrument upward, or increasing the pitch angle of the instrument from the horizontal, will be sensed by at least an accelerometer in the device  104 . The signal from the accelerometer can be received and optionally processed by the device  104 , with a digital control signal being generated and transmitted by the controller device  104  to a computer  502 A for subsequent processing or to a hardware device  504  directly. Upon receipt of the accelerator data signal from the controller device  104 , the control software of the computer  502 A- 502 C or hardware device  504  recognizes the upward movement of the instrument and sends a control message signal accordingly to another hardware device for subsequent control of an equipment hardware function. For example, the volume of the sound can be increased as a direct, real time result of the user raising the instrument. Alternately, the brightness of the lighting in a musical stage environment could be increased. Similarly, as the accelerometer detects and downward change in the orientation of the instrument, the sound or lights could be reduced. 
     The sensors can detect other movements in the x, y, z three-dimensional plane of the instrument to which the controller device is attached and can generate signals from the device  104  to computers  502 A- 502 C or other control hardware equipment  504  to control other effects. For example, the user can spin one revolution; and the resulting sensor data signals from the device can be interpreted to instruct the computer  502 A- 502 C or hardware controller  504  to initiate special effects. Even lifting the instrument horizontally can be detected by the sensors to trigger generation of output control signals from the controller device  104 . Such special effects can be a particular light show, or smoke, or even the playback of other instruments or recordings. In this manner, a sole use of a musical instrument can control multiple effects, play of music, and play of other instruments without ever removing his or her hands from the instrument. 
     When the user no longer needs digital controls on their instrument  100  he or she can simply slip the device  104  off and go back to playing the instrument  100  without any modifications. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the disclosure unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. 
     Additionally, while the processes described above are shown as a sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, and some steps may be performed in parallel.