Patent Publication Number: US-2019168586-A1

Title: Adaptive light passage region control

Description:
FIELD 
     The subject matter described herein relates in general to vehicle occupant vision devices and, more particularly, to the control of an adaptive light passage region of a vehicle window according to an external light source with respect to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant. 
     BACKGROUND 
     High intensity lights have generally caused a vehicle operator or passenger to have temporary blindness, or affect their ability to view a vehicle environment in low-light conditions. To avoid having their night vision being adversely affected, vehicle operators and/or vehicle occupants may have had to turn their heads away from the road ahead, causing a hopefully shorter interval of taking their attention away from the road, as contrasted for a likely longer period of time to suffer a loss of night vision for a longer period of time, and correspondingly, being able to safely view the road ahead. As a result, either turning their head to avoid a high-intensity light source, such as an oncoming vehicle, or being caught by surprise by a high-intensity light source, such as an oncoming vehicle cresting a hill, may cause a condition for a collision to occur. 
     Also, at times, high-intensity, pulsing light sources, such as emergency vehicle light sources, have generally served as an operator distraction by the primal desire to see what is happening (such as a vehicle collision, traffic stop, etc.). Again, a vehicle operator&#39;s attention is distracted from the primary task of driving, which as a result may lead to a collision with other vehicles. 
     SUMMARY 
     A device and method for adaptive light passage region control are disclosed. 
     In one implementation, a method of adapting light passage for a vehicle window is disclosed. The method includes sensing a light source external to the vehicle window, the light source operable to affect viewing the external environment. A portion of an adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window is defined relative to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant, and an opacity level of the portion of the adaptive light passage region is adapted to normalize the intensity of the light source relative to the light magnitude sample data. The light source may be tracked for sustaining the opacity level of the portion of the adaptive light passage region with the gaze direction of the vehicle occupant while the light source exceeds the intensity threshold. 
     In another implementation, vehicle control unit is disclosed. The vehicle control unit includes a communication interface, a processor, and memory. The processor is communicably coupled to the communication interface, where the communication interface services communication with a vehicle network. The memory is communicably coupled to the processor and storing a light source detection module, a window opacity module, and a transmission module. The light source detection module includes that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to sense a light source external to the vehicle window, determine an intensity of the light source; and compare the intensity with an intensity threshold. The window opacity module includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to, when the intensity of the light source exceeds the intensity threshold, define an area parameter of a plurality of widow opacity parameters for a portion of an adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window relative to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant, define an opacity level parameter of the plurality of window opacity parameters for the portion of the adaptive light passage region operable to normalize the intensity of the light source relative to light magnitude sample data, and generate a coordinate parameter of the plurality of window opacity parameters for the portion of the adaptive light passage region operable to track the light source with the portion of the adaptive light passage region relative to the gaze direction of the vehicle occupant. The transmission module includes instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to format the plurality of window opacity parameters to produce a window opacity command; and transmit the window opacity command for effecting the portion of the adaptive light passage region. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1A  illustrates a vehicle cabin of a vehicle with an adaptive light passage region for a vehicle window and a vehicle control unit; 
         FIG. 1B  illustrates a vehicle cabin of a vehicle with another example embodiment of an adaptive light passage region for a vehicle window and a vehicle control unit; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of the vehicle control unit of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a functional block diagram of the vehicle control unit of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is an example process to adapt light passage for a vehicle window. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A device and method for an adaptive light passage region of a vehicle window are described herein. 
     The device and method are operable to adapt light passage of an external light source through a vehicle window to minimize distraction by the external light source. For example, in strong or harsh sunlight conditions, a portion of an adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window is defined relative to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant. A window opacity parameter of the portion of the adaptive light passage region is adapted to normalize the intensity of the light source, such as the sun, relative to light magnitude sample data for the vehicle window. The light source may be tracked to sustain the window opacity parameter of the portion of the adaptive light passage region with the gaze direction of the vehicle occupant while the light source exceeds an intensity threshold, such as the sun continues to shine through the vehicle window, causing discomfort to the vehicle operator and/or occupant. 
       FIG. 1A  is an illustration of a vehicle cabin  124  of a vehicle  100 , which may include an adaptive light passage region  120  for a vehicle window  110  and a vehicle control unit  160 . As may be appreciated, the vehicle  100  may be an electric vehicle (EV), a combustible-fuel/electric hybrid vehicle, and/or a combustible-fuel vehicle, such as an automobile, light truck, cargo transport, or any other passenger or non-passenger vehicle. 
     The vehicle  100  may include a dashboard  114  positioned towards a front most portion of a vehicle cabin  124 . The dashboard  114  extends in the lateral direction between the sides of the vehicle  100 . A top surface of the dashboard  114  is located under a vehicle window  110 . 
     An instrument panel  118  may be positioned for viewing by a vehicle operator and/or occupant. Light sensor device  150  may operate to sense ambient light  130  passing through the vehicle window  110  into the vehicle cabin  124 . The intensity of the ambient light reaching the vehicle cabin  124  relates to a refractive index of the vehicle window, which may be averaged to assess the amount of ambient light in the vehicle environment. 
     For adapting light passage, the vehicle window  110  may include an adaptive light passage region  120 , which may be responsive to commands generated by the vehicle control unit  160  via a window opacity command  156 . The adaptive light passage region  120  may be provided as a display overlay on the interior or exterior of the vehicle window  110 , or as a component part of the window structure. As shown, the adaptive light passage region  120  may engage a portion of the vehicle window  110  generally within the field of a vehicle occupant&#39;s gaze, though the adaptive light passage region  120  may have a coverage area corresponding to the window surface area, relating to a vehicle window surface span  148  and  148   b.    
     The adaptive light passage region  120  may be transparent in a neutral state, while portions may be responsive to the window opacity command  156 . The window opacity command may include window opacity parameter such as an opacity level parameter, an area parameter, a shape parameter, and coordinate parameter related to a portion  122  and/or contiguous portion  124  of the adaptive light passage region  120 . 
     The contiguous portion  124  relates to a light source track  126  such that the portion  122  may sustain the window opacity parameter of the portion  122  of the adaptive light passage region  120  with a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant while the light source exceeds the intensity threshold. The opacity of the portion  122  and/or  123  may also be referred to as an absorption coefficient effected by the opacity level parameter. In this respect, the adaptive light passage region  120  may provide portions  122 ,  123 , etc., that may absorb light from a light source to normalize (or equalize) the intensity of a light source (such as the sun, an oncoming car headlights at night, disruptive flashing emergency vehicle lights, etc.) with respect to the light magnitude sample data  154 , which conveys an average intensity of the ambient light  130  via the light sensor device. That is, for normalizing the intensity of the light source as perceived by a vehicle occupant, the light intensity may be adaptively absorbed and/or reflected by an opacity level, such that a fraction of the light source intensity passes to the vehicle cabin  124  through the portion  122  and/or contiguous portion  123 . 
     The portion  122  and/or contiguous portion  123  may be based on gaze direction data  153  of the vehicle operator, in the present example, and captured via the gaze-tracking sensor device  152  (such as a camera, an infrared tracking, a face-tracking algorithm based on camera input, etc.). 
     Gaze-tracking sensor device  152  may operate to generate gaze direction data  153 . Light sensor device  150  may generate light magnitude sample data  154 . The gaze direction data  153  and the light magnitude sample data  154  may be conveyed via a vehicle network  170  to control units of the vehicle  100 , such as the vehicle control unit  160 . 
     The adaptive light passage region  120  may be provided as an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. As may be appreciated, OLED displays may include a flat-light emitting technology, made by placing a series of organic thin films between two conductors providing flexibility and thin construction. The OLED display may operate similar to a display screen, forming colored and/or opaque portions  122  and  123  to filter, diminish and/or normalize (or equalize) an external light source intensity. Other embodiments may include LED, LCD structures reactive to electric actuation. 
     Further, with respect to a display embodiment, alpha compositing may be operable to capture a live-video stream viewed via the adaptive light passage region  120  to provide virtual application of window opacity for normalizing the intensity of the light source relative to the light magnitude sample data. For example, alpha compositing may operate to combining the portion  122  and/or  123  with a video stream background to create the appearance of partial or full transparency to virtually normalize the light intensity related to a light source. In this respect, a composite display may be generated to combine rendered portions of the adaptive light passage region  120  with live stream of the forward vehicle window perspective. Also, because display materials, such as an OLED display, may be transparent when not active, a vehicle operator may view the driving environment, while the adaptive light passage region  120  may display an alpha compositing video, or video relating to portions that may be aligned with the gaze direction of a vehicle occupant. 
     The light sensor device  150  may include one element or a plurality of elements in an array configuration for assessing the average ambient light  130  density for the vehicle  100 . The sensor device  150  may operate for a sensing region that may include a horizontal vehicle window surface span  148   a  and a vertical vehicle window surface span  148   b . The area of the sensing region may be sized sufficient to determine an intensity threshold, which may be based on a light intensity average for the vehicle  110 , a flashing light intensity (such as those of police vehicles, emergency vehicles, etc.). 
     The vehicle control unit  110  may be operable to sense a light source external to a vehicle window, such as using the light sensor device  150 , camera sensor devices of the vehicle  100 , etc. Gaze direction data  153  may be generated by a gaze-tracking sensor device  152 , which may provide eye-tracking, face tracking, of the vehicle occupant, which may correlate with the adaptive light passage region  120 . With respect to movement of a light source, such as an oncoming vehicle relative the vehicle  100 , sunlight, emergency vehicle hazard lights, etc. 
     Though the front window is illustrated in the example of  FIG. 1 , one or more vehicle windows (e.g., front windshield, side window, etc.) may include an adaptive light passage region for adapting an opacity level parameter to normalize, or in some instances, black-out a view of a collision scene. 
     Also, a window opacity parameter may be generated for a portion of an adaptive light passage region  120  based on a manual-actuation via a user interface or other suitable manner. In such case, one or more physical or graphical user interface elements (e.g., buttons, switches, etc.) may be provided in the vehicle cabin  124 . As another example, actuation may occur upon detection of a trigger condition. 
     For instance, the vehicle control unit  160  can be configured to detect one or more driver conditions indicative of difficulty seeing due to sunlight, oncoming vehicle headlights, etc., such as facial recognition of vehicle operator expressions such as squinting, weight-shift to shield from the light source, eye gaze, etc. Other triggers may include the addition of sunglasses or shades their eyes with their hand, indicating a sunrise or sunset condition. Thus, the vehicle  100  may include various biometric sensors to “read” the presence of a high-intensity light source. Another example of a trigger condition may include a vehicle cabin  124  condition such as a sun visor is deployed. 
     Also, with respect to facial recognition, an interior camera sensor device may capture image data of respective vehicle passengers facial expressions, and based on image recognition engines and/or machine learning techniques, a determination for issuing a respective window opacity command  156  may be generated and transmitted to generate a portion  122 , or a plurality of portions  122  for respective vehicle passengers. 
       FIG. 1B  is an illustration of another embodiment of a vehicle cabin  124  of a vehicle  100 , which may include an adaptive light passage region  120  for a vehicle window  110  and a vehicle control unit  160 . 
     The adaptive light passage region  120  may extend across the vehicle window surface span  148   a  of the vehicle window  110 . The adaptive light passage region  120  may provide portions  122   a  and  122   b  responsive to the window opacity command  156  for each of a front driver position and a front passenger position. 
     Further, an additional adaptive light passage region  120  may be presented on a rear driver-side and passenger-side window to further provide portions responsive to the window opacity command  156 . 
     The portion  122   a  and/or contiguous portion  123   a  may be based on gaze direction data  153  of the vehicle operator, in the present example, and captured via the gaze-tracking sensor device  152  (such as a camera, an infrared tracking, a face-tracking algorithm based on camera input, etc.). The graduated portion  122   b  may also be based on gaze direction data  153  of the vehicle passenger, in the present example, and captured via the gaze-tracking sensor device  152 . As indicated, a portion  122   a  may track a driver gaze to generate a contiguous portion  123   a . Other variations of portions may be implemented, such as a graduated portion  122   b  that provides a lower opacity level near a center, and gradually increases outward to allow additional ambient light  130  in to the vehicle cabin  134 , and for the comfort of the passenger. Moreover, the adaptive light passage region  120  may alter an opacity level across the region  120 , while providing reduced opacity (and light filtering) aligned with a gaze of a driver and/or passenger. 
     Gaze-tracking sensor device  152  may operate to generate gaze direction data  153 , which allows the portion  122   a  and  122   b  to track a passenger gaze. Light sensor device  150  may generate light magnitude sample data  154 . The gaze direction data  153  and the light magnitude sample data  154  may be conveyed via a vehicle network  170  to control units of the vehicle  100 , such as the vehicle control unit  160 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of a vehicle control unit  110  in the context of a vehicle  100 . While the vehicle control unit  110  is depicted in abstract with other vehicular components, the vehicle control unit  110  may be combined with the system components of the vehicle  100  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The vehicle control unit  110  may operate the adaptive light passage region  120  to define portions  122  and  123  ( FIG. 1 ) responsive to a window opacity command  156 . The vehicle control unit  110  may communicate with the adaptive light passage region  120  via a communication path  213 . 
     Trigger condition data may be provided to the vehicle control unit  160  from internal and/or external vehicle sensors. For example, the condition data may include gaze direction data  153  via a gaze tracking sensor device (for eye-tracking, face-tracking, etc.), light magnitude sample data  154  via a light sensor device operable to detect an intensity of a light source, as well as provide an intensity threshold for providing a window opacity parameter via a window opacity command  156 . 
     The internal vehicle environment may be recognized based on direction of the vehicle operator&#39;s gaze via gaze direction data  153  (such as to the side of the vehicle that may indicate avoiding an intense light source, or gazing in a distracted direction towards a likely hazard or vehicle collision, etc.). In addition, other biometric sensing may be implemented, such as sensing skin temperature, coloration etc. (indicating the emotional state of the vehicle user, such as calm, frustrated, angry, etc.), etc. 
     By processing sensor data such as the gaze direction data  153  and the light magnitude sample data  154 , the vehicle control unit  160  may operate to produce a window opacity command  156  for transmission to the adaptive light passage region  120  and/or intermediate vehicle control units to adapt a window opacity parameter of the portion of the adaptive light passage region via a window opacity command  156  to normalize the intensity of a light source relative to the light magnitude sample data  154 . The portion may be defined via the window opacity command  156  as relating to an opacity (or absorption) level parameter, an area size parameter, a relative placement parameter, etc. 
     As may be appreciated, the communication path  213  of the vehicle network  170  may be formed a medium suitable for transmitting a signal such as, for example, conductive wires, conductive traces, optical waveguides, or the like. Moreover, the communication path  213  can be formed from a combination of mediums capable of transmitting signals. In one embodiment, the communication path  213  may include a combination of conductive traces, conductive wires, connectors, and buses that cooperate to permit the transmission of electrical data signals to components such as processors, memories, sensors, input devices, output devices, and communication devices. 
     Accordingly, the communication path  213  may be provided by a vehicle bus, or combinations thereof, such as for example, a Body Electronic Area Network (BEAN), a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus configuration, an Audio Visual Communication-Local Area Network (AVC-LAN) configuration, a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) configuration, a Vehicle Area Network (VAN) bus, a vehicle Ethernet LAN, a vehicle wireless LAN and/or other combinations of additional communication-system architectures to provide communications between devices and systems of the vehicle  100 . 
     The term “signal” relates to a waveform (e.g., electrical, optical, magnetic, mechanical or electromagnetic), such as DC, AC, sinusoidal-wave, triangular-wave, square-wave, vibration, and the like, capable of traveling through at least some of the mediums described herein. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a functional block diagram of a vehicle control unit  160 . The vehicle control unit may include a light source module  306 , a window opacity module  310 , and a transmission module  314 . 
     In operation, the memory of the vehicle control unit  160  may be communicably coupled to the processor  204  and to the light sensor device  150  and gaze-tracking sensor device  152  ( FIG. 1 ) to receive light magnitude sample data  154  and gaze direction data  153 . 
     The memory  206  stores the light source module  306  including instructions that when executed cause the processor  304  to sense a light source external to a vehicle window via light magnitude sample data  154  from the light sensor device  150 . The light source detection module  306  may also operate to detect the presence of a light source external to a vehicle window via biometric indicators from a vehicle occupant, such as via gaze direction data  153  from the gaze-tracking sensor device  152 . 
     For instance, the vehicle control unit  160  may detect one or more vehicle occupant biometric conditions indicative of difficulty seeing due to sunlight, oncoming vehicle headlights, etc. Biometric information may include facial recognition of vehicle operator expressions such as squinting, weight-shift to shield from the light source, eye gaze, etc. Thus, the vehicle  100  may include various biometric reactions sensed by biometric sensor devices to “read” the presence of a high-intensity light source, which may be taken as having an excessive intensity because of an occupant&#39;s response to a light source (such as a resulting discomfort and attempts to minimize the effect on vision). 
     As may be appreciated, the light source module  306  may operate to average the light magnitude sample data  154  for a predetermined time period to generate an intensity threshold, as well as sense a spike in light intensity that may relate to a light source, such as oncoming vehicle lights, sun glare, etc. 
     The light source detection module  306  may determine an intensity of the light source, and compare the intensity with an intensity threshold. For example, based on light magnitude sample data  154 , when the intensity of a light source exceeds a light intensity average for the vehicle window (that is, the pre-existing level of light intensity), or the light source is a flashing light intensity that is periodic in nature), or may not sustain a light intensity, the receipt of biometric data, such as gaze direction data  153 , indicative of vehicle occupant discomfort. 
     When the intensity of a light source exceeds the intensity threshold, the light source detection module  306  may generate an intensity threshold signal  308 , which may be received by the window opacity module  310 . Sampling interval  309  may operate to prompt the light source detection module  3006  to repeatedly sample the light magnitude sample data  154  and/or the gaze direction data  153  for movement of a light source, and to provide tracking of the light source to sustain a portion of the adaptive light passage region  120  to mitigate vehicle operator and/or occupant discomfort. 
     The memory  206  stores the window opacity module  310  including instructions that when executed, cause the processor  304  to define a portion of an adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window relative via a plurality of window opacity parameters  312  and a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant based on gaze direction data  153 . 
     In operation, the window opacity module  310  receives the intensity threshold signal  308  and defines therefrom an area parameter  312   a  of a plurality of widow opacity parameters  312  for a portion of an adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window relative to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant. The area parameter  312   a  may operate to define a sufficient area to “block” the intensity of a light source to alleviate vehicle operator and/or occupant discomfort from the light intensity. As may appreciated, a shape parameter  312   b  of the plurality of window opacity parameters  312  may define the shape of the portion, such as geometric shapes including squares, rectangles, ovals, circular, etc., as well as other whimsical shapes, such as virtual sunglasses, hat profiles, etc. 
     The window opacity module  310  may further operate to define from the intensity threshold signal  308  an opacity level parameter  312   c  of the plurality of window opacity parameters  312  for the portion of the adaptive light passage region. The opacity level parameter  312   c  may define an opacity (or absorption) level operable to normalize the intensity of the light source relative to light magnitude sample data for the remaining portion of the adaptive light passage region and/or the vehicle window. 
     The window opacity module  310  generates a coordinate parameter  312   d  of the plurality of window opacity parameters  312  for the portion of the adaptive light passage region operable to track the light source with the portion of the adaptive light passage region relative to the gaze direction of the vehicle occupant. In this respect, the gaze direction data  153  from the gaze-tracking sensor device  152  provides the coordinate  312   d  to normalize the view for the vehicle operator and/or occupant. 
     The memory  206  stores the transmission module  314  including instructions that when executed, cause the processor  304  to receive the plurality of window opacity parameters  312 , and produce a window opacity command  316 . The window opacity command  316  may be formatted, or encapsulated, for effecting the portion of the adaptive light passage region based on the plurality of window opacity parameters  312 . 
       FIG. 4  is an example process  400  of adapting light passage for a vehicle window. At operation  402 , a light source external to a vehicle window may be sensed via a light sensor device, as well may be sensed based on biometric indicators of a vehicle occupant, such as via gaze direction data from the gaze-tracking sensor device. 
     For sensing the light source, vehicle sensors may detect one or more vehicle occupant biometric conditions indicative of difficulty seeing due to sunlight, oncoming vehicle headlights, etc. Biometric information may include facial recognition of vehicle operator expressions such as squinting, weight-shift to shield from the light source, eye gaze, etc., that may evidence resulting operator and/or occupant discomfort and their attempts to mitigate the effect on their eye sight. 
     At operation  404 , an intensity of the light source may be determined, and at operation  406 , compared to an average of light magnitude sample data over a predetermined time period that may provide an intensity threshold. The intensity of the light source may be based on a “spike” in a light magnitude sample light intensity, because sharp magnitude transitions may operate to indicate the occurrence of a light source, such as oncoming vehicle lights, sun glare, etc. 
     When the intensity of a light source exceeds the intensity threshold at operation  408 , the process proceeds to operation  410 . The intensity of the light source may be considered to exceed an intensity threshold when exceeding a pre-existing light intensity average, or the light source may be periodic, indicating a flashing light intensity, such as emergency vehicles. Biometric data may also indicate that a light source exceeds an intensity threshold when the biometric data may be indicative of vehicle occupant discomfort. 
     When the intensity of a light source exceeds the intensity threshold, the light source detection module  306  may generate an intensity threshold signal  308 , which may be received by the window opacity module  310 . Sampling interval  309  may operate to prompt the light source detection module  3006  to repeatedly sample the light magnitude sample data  154  and/or the gaze direction data  153  for movement of a light source, and to provide tracking of the light source to sustain a portion of the adaptive light passage region  120  to mitigate vehicle operator and/or occupant discomfort. 
     At operation  410 , an area parameter may be defined for a portion of the adaptive light passage region of the vehicle window relative to a gaze direction of a vehicle occupant for producing an area parameter. The area parameter may operate to define a sufficient area to “block” the intensity of a light source to alleviate vehicle operator and/or occupant discomfort from the light intensity. As may appreciated, a shape parameter may further define an outer boundary of the area parameter, such as to form geometric shapes including squares, rectangles, ovals, circular, etc., as well as other shapes, such as virtual sunglasses, hat profiles, etc. 
     At operation  412 , an opacity level parameter of a plurality of window opacity parameters may be defined for the portion of the adaptive light passage region. The opacity level parameter may define an opacity (or absorption) level operable to normalize the intensity of the light source relative to light magnitude sample data for the remaining portion of the adaptive light passage region and/or the vehicle window. 
     To place the portion within the adaptive light passage region, at operation a coordinate parameter maybe generated for the portion of the adaptive light passage region. As the position of the light source may change over time, the operation coordinate parameter may be updated to track the light source with the portion in conjunction with the gaze direction a vehicle occupant. In this respect, the gaze direction data from a gaze-tracking sensor device (such as an eye-tracking sensor device or face-tracking sensor device) may generate the coordinate parameter for placing the portion for normalizing the operator&#39;s and/or occupant&#39;s view. 
     At operation  416 , a plurality of window opacity parameters (such as the area parameter, the shape parameter (as desired), the opacity level parameter, and coordinate parameter) may be formatted and/or encapsulated based on the requirements a vehicle network for effecting the portion of the adaptive light passage region. 
     Detailed embodiments are disclosed herein. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are intended only as examples. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the aspects herein in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of possible implementations. Various embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 1-54 , but the embodiments are not limited to the illustrated structure or application. As one of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate, the term “substantially” or “approximately,” as may be used herein, provides an industry-accepted tolerance to its corresponding term and/or relativity between items. Such an industry-accepted tolerance ranges from less than one percent to twenty percent and corresponds to, but is not limited to, component values, integrated circuit process variations, temperature variations, rise and fall times, and/or thermal noise. Such relativity between items range from a difference of a few percent to magnitude differences. As one of ordinary skill in the art may further appreciate, the term “coupled,” as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate, inferred coupling (that is, where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “coupled.” 
     As one of ordinary skill in the art may further appreciate, the term “coupled,” as may be used herein, includes direct coupling and indirect coupling via another component, element, circuit, or module where, for indirect coupling, the intervening component, element, circuit, or module does not modify the information of a signal but may adjust its current level, voltage level, and/or power level. As one of ordinary skill in the art will also appreciate, inferred coupling (that is, where one element is coupled to another element by inference) includes direct and indirect coupling between two elements in the same manner as “coupled.” 
     As the term “module” is used in the description of the drawings, a module includes a functional block that is implemented in hardware, software, and/or firmware that performs one or more functions such as the processing of an input signal to produce an output signal. As used herein, a module may contain submodules that themselves are modules. 
     The flowcharts and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. 
     The systems, components and/or processes described above can be realized in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and can be realized in a centralized fashion in one processing system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected processing systems. Any kind of processing system or another apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a processing system with computer-usable program code that, when being loaded and executed, controls the processing system such that it carries out the methods described herein. The systems, components and/or processes also can be embedded in a computer-readable storage medium, such as a computer program product or other data programs storage device, readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform methods and processes described herein. These elements also can be embedded in an application product which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein and, which when loaded in a processing system, is able to carry out these methods. 
     Furthermore, arrangements described herein may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable media having computer-readable program code embodied, e.g., stored, thereon. Any combination of one or more computer-readable media may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. 
     The phrase “computer-readable storage medium” means a non-transitory storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disc (DVD), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber, cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present arrangements may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object-oriented programming language such as Java™, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. 
     The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). 
     The terms “a” and “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e. open language). The phrase “at least one of . . . and . . . .” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As an example, the phrase “at least one of A, B, and C” includes A only, B only, C only, or any combination thereof (e.g. AB, AC, BC or ABC). 
     Aspects herein can be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope hereof.