Patent Publication Number: US-2023164956-A1

Title: Apparatus, system, and method for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Heatsinks are often a critical factor for electronic and mechanical devices. For example, a telecommunications device (such as a router or switch) may include circuit boards with electronic components that generate heat during operation, thereby causing the operating temperatures of those electronic components and/or neighboring components to rise. If the operating temperatures rise above a certain level, such components may overheat, malfunction, or even break. To prevent such issues, many electronic components may be equipped with heatsinks designed to transfer and/or dissipate heat. The heatsinks may include thermally conductive material that transfers heat away from the electronic components, thereby cooling the electronic components and/or enabling them to achieve higher performance. 
     Heatsinks may also introduce certain risks into telecommunications devices. For example, a high-performing heatsink may be relatively heavy and/or represent a heavy load that is pressed against an electronic component via one or more springs. Unfortunately, the pressure applied to the heatsink by the springs may actually deform and/or bend the heatsink. Such deformation and/or bending of the heatsink may impair, degrade, and/or destroy the heatsink&#39;s performance (e.g., crashing a vapor chamber within the heatsink, demating the thermal coupling between the heatsink and the electronic component, and/or cracking the electronic component). 
     Similarly, the pressure applied to the heatsink by the springs may actually deform, crack, and/or other damage the electronic component. Such deformation and/or damage of the electronic component may impair, degrade, and/or destroy the electronic component&#39;s performance. The instant disclosure, therefore, identifies and addresses a need for additional and improved apparatuses, systems, and methods for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks and/or damaging electronic components cooled by such heatsinks. 
     SUMMARY 
     As will be described in greater detail below, the instant disclosure generally relates to apparatuses, systems, and methods for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. In one example, an apparatus for accomplishing such a task may include (1) a heat-emitting component, (2) a heatsink that includes a designated area thermally coupled to the heat-emitting component, (3) a plurality of springs that apply forces that support the thermal coupling between the designated area of the heatsink and the heat-emitting component, and (4) a pressure plate that concentrates the forces applied by the springs toward the designated area of the heatsink. 
     Similarly, a system for accomplishing such a task may include (1) a computing device and (2) a spring-loaded heat exchanger incorporated in the computing device, wherein the spring-loaded heat exchanger comprising (A) a heat-emitting component, (B) a heatsink that includes a designated area thermally coupled to the heat-emitting component, (C) a plurality of springs that apply forces that support the thermal coupling between the designated area of the heatsink and the heat-emitting component, and (D) a pressure plate that concentrates the forces applied by the springs toward the designated area of the heatsink. 
     A corresponding method may include (1) thermally coupling, via a spring-loaded heat exchanger, a designated area of a heatsink to a heat-emitting component mounted to a circuit board, (2) applying, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a plurality of springs that impart forces to support the thermal coupling between the designated area of the heatsink and the heat-emitting component, and (3) applying, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a pressure plate that concentrates the forces imparted by the springs toward the designated area of the heatsink. 
     Features from any of the above-mentioned embodiments may be used in combination with one another in accordance with the general principles described herein. These and other embodiments, features, and advantages will be more fully understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings illustrate a number of exemplary embodiments and are a part of the specification. Together with the following description, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principles of the instant disclosure. 
         FIG.  1    is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is an illustration of an exemplary heat-emitting component capable of being cooled by a spring-loaded heatsink in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of an exemplary apparatus for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration of an exemplary device rack that holds rackmount computing devices in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  7    is an illustration of an exemplary rackmount computing device in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
         FIG.  8    is a flow diagram of an exemplary method for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks in accordance with one or more embodiments of this disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Throughout the drawings, identical reference characters and descriptions indicate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. While the exemplary embodiments described herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown byway of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the instant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure describes various apparatuses, systems, and methods for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. As will be explained in greater detail below, embodiments of the instant disclosure may include and/or involve a pressure plate that concentrates forces applied by a plurality of springs toward a designated area of a heatsink. For example, a spring-loaded heatsink may include and/or involve springs coupled to mounting posts that maintain the heatsink in place atop a heat-emitting component. In this example, the spring-loaded heatsink may include and/or involve a pressure plate that concentrates and/or focuses forces applied by those springs toward a pedestal of the heatsink that makes contact with the heat-emitting component. 
     By concentrating and/or focusing the forces applied by those springs toward the pedestal, the pressure plate may safely align and/or transfer those forces to the pedestal pressing against the heat-emitting component, thereby preventing those forces from being distributed to portions of the heatsink that could potentially lead to deformation and/or bending of the heatsink or even damage to the heat-emitting component. As a result, the pressure plate may enable the spring-loaded heatsink to maintain a secure thermal coupling with the heat-emitting component, to improve or maximize the heatsink&#39;s performance, to prolong the structural integrity or thermal-transfer capabilities of the heatsink, and/or to protect the functionality of the heat-emitting component. 
     The following will provide, with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 7   , detailed descriptions of exemplary components, apparatuses, systems, configurations, and/or implementations for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. In addition, the discussion corresponding to  FIG.  8    will provide detailed descriptions of an exemplary method for assembling and/or manufacturing apparatuses for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary apparatus  100  for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , exemplary apparatus  100  may include and/or represent various features, components, and/or devices that make up and/or form a spring-loaded heatsink. For example, apparatus  100  may include and/or represent a heatsink  104 , springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ), and a pressure plate  108 . In this example, heatsink  104  may be spring-loaded by springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) to press against a heat-emitting component  102  coupled to a circuit board  110 . Specifically, heatsink  104  may include and/or incorporate a designated area (e.g., a pedestal  112 ) that makes physical contact and/or interfaces with a top surface of heat-emitting component  102 . Although  FIG.  1    illustrates only two springs, apparatus  100  may also include and/or represent one or more additional springs that contribute to spring-loading heatsink  104  to press against heat-emitting component  102 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG.  1   , exemplary apparatus  100  may include and/or represent mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) that maintain and/or hold heatsink  104  in place atop heat-emitting component  102  by way of pressure plate  108 . Although  FIG.  1    illustrates only two mounting posts, apparatus  100  may also include and/or represent one or more additional mounting posts that contribute to maintaining and/or holding heatsink  104  in place atop heat-emitting component  102  by way of pressure plate  108 . 
     In some examples, mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) may mate and/or interface with a backing plate  114  applied and/or positioned opposite circuit board  110  to pressurize and/or lock pressure plate  108  against heatsink  104  via springs  106  ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ). In these examples, springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) may be coupled to mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ), respectively, and apply forces that support the thermal coupling between the designated area (e.g., pedestal  112 ) of heatsink  104  and heat-emitting component  102 . In one example, pressure plate  108  may concentrate and/or focus those forces applied by springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) toward the designated area of heatsink  104 . By doing so, pressure plate  108  may safely align and/or transfer those forces to the designated area of heatsink  104  pressing against heat-emitting component  102 , thereby preventing those forces from being distributed to portions of heatsink  104  that could potentially lead to deformation and/or bending of heatsink  104  or even damage to heat-emitting component  102 . 
     In some examples, heatsink  104  may include and/or represent any type or form of device, structure, and/or mechanism designed to conduct, transfer, absorb, and/or sink heat. Heatsink  104  may include and/or contain a variety of thermally conductive materials. Examples of such thermally conductive materials include, without limitation, copper, aluminum, diamond, silver, gold, alloys of one or more of the same, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. 
     In some examples, heatsink  104  may contain and/or be composed of a series of ridges or corrugations extending from a base. For example, heatsink  104  may include and/or incorporate a finned and/or pin fin configuration or design. This configuration may increase the surface area of the conductive material within the heatsink, thereby increasing the amount of heat dissipated by the same. Heatsink  104  may also include any additional or alternative structure designed to facilitate and/or increase heat dissipation, such as wicks, heatpipes, and/or vapor chambers. 
     In some examples, heatsink  104  may include and/or incorporate pedestal  112 , which interfaces and/or makes contact with heat-emitting component  102 . In one example, pedestal  112  may be dimensioned to substantially match the size of heat-emitting component  102 . For example, pedestal  112  may be sized to cover the top surface of heat-emitting component  102 , thereby providing an area sufficient to achieve the necessary thermal transfer. In this example, pedestal  112  may be positioned atop heat-emitting component  102  to form and/or establish a thermal coupling with heat-emitting component  102 . 
     In some examples, springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) may each include and/or represent any type or form of mechanical apparatus and/or device capable of storing, absorbing, and/or releasing energy or force. In one example, spring  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) may each include and/or represent a compression coil spring. Additional examples of springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) include, without limitation, tension springs, extension springs, horseshoe springs, torsion springs, coil springs, constant-force springs, gas springs, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable springs. 
     Spring  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) may include and/or contain a variety of materials. Examples of such materials include, without limitation, metals, copper, aluminum, alloys, plastics, polymers, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. 
     In some examples, pressure plate  108  may include and/or represent any type or form of physical structure and/or mechanism that pressurizes heatsink  104  to heat-emitting electrical component  102 . In one example, pressure plate  108  may include and/or incorporate a contact area  122  that presses against and/or makes contact a top surface (e.g., a fin structure) of with heatsink  104 . In this example, contact area  122  of pressure plate  108  may be positioned atop heatsink  104  opposite pedestal  112  of heatsink  104 . By positioning pressure plate  108  atop heatsink  104  in this way, the boundary of contact area  122  may substantially align and/or coincide with the boundary of pedestal  112  of heatsink  104 . In certain examples, pressure plate  108  may reside and/or sit between springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) applied to mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) and heatsink  104 . This position and/or configuration of pressure plate  108  may facilitate spring-loading pressure plate  108  toward the designated area of heatsink  104 . Thus, pressure plate  108  may avoid making contact with heatsink  104  outside of contact area  122  to protect the structural integrity of heatsink  104 ( 1 ). 
     In some examples, circuit board  110  may include and/or represents any piece of insulating material that facilitates mounting (e.g., mechanical support) and/or interconnection (e.g., electrical coupling) of electrical and/or electronic components. In one example, circuit board  110  may include and/or represent a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Examples of circuit board  102  include, without limitation, single-sided boards, double-sided boards, multilayer boards, motherboards, linecards, backplanes, midplanes, and/or any other suitable type of circuit board. Various components (e.g., heat-emitting component  102 ) may be laminated, etched, attached, soldered, and/or otherwise coupled to circuit board  110 . 
     In some examples, circuit board  110  may include various electrically conductive layers and/or traces (not necessarily illustrated in  FIG.  1   ). Such conductive layers and/or traces may include and/or represent electrically conductive materials. Examples of such electrically conductive materials include, without limitation, copper, aluminum, silver, gold, alloys of one or more of the same, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. 
     In one example, each layer may include and/or represent a conductive plane that is etched and/or laid during the fabrication phase to produce various conductive traces throughout circuit board  110 . In this example, the etched and/or laid conductive traces may be separated from and/or interconnected with one another as necessary to form one or more circuits that incorporate electrical components and/or electronics across circuit board  110 . 
     In some examples, backing plate  114  may include and/or represent include and/or represent any type or form of physical structure and/or mechanism that pressurizes heatsink  104  to heat-emitting electrical component  102 . In one example, backing plate  114  may provide support and/or additional structure to the spring-loaded heatsink. In one example, heatsink  104  may be applied to the top side of circuit board  110  in  FIG.  1    to facilitate contact with heat-emitting component  102 , and backing plate  114  may be applied to the bottom side of circuit board  110  in  FIG.  1   . In this example, backing plate  114  and/or pressure plate  108  may be secured in place by mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ). 
     In some examples, mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) may each include and/or represent any type or form of attachment, mounting, and/or coupling structure or means. For example, mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) may each include and/or represent a pairing of a screw and threaded post or standoff. In another example, mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) may each include and/or represent a pairing of a pin and an extension post or bracket. 
     Mounting posts  130 ( 1 ) and  130 ( 2 ) may include and/or contain a variety of materials. Examples of such materials include, without limitation, metals, copper, aluminum, alloys, plastics, polymers, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary implementation of heat-emitting component  102 , which is capable of being cooled by a spring-loaded heatsink. In some examples, heat-emitting component  102  may include and/or represent any type or form of device, component, and/or circuit that emits heat. In one example, heat-emitting component  102  may include and/or represent an integrated circuit. Additional examples of heat-emitting component  102  include, without limitation, Central Processing Units (CPUs), microprocessors, microcontrollers, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) that implement softcore processors, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), memories (e.g., high-bandwidth memory devices), portions of one or more of the same, variations or combinations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable heat-emitting component. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary apparatus  300  for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , exemplary apparatus  300  may include and/or represent various features, components, and/or devices that make up and/or form a spring-loaded heatsink assembly. In some examples, apparatus  300  may include and/or represent any of the features, components, and/or devices described above in connection with apparatus  100  in  FIG.  1   . 
     In some examples, apparatus  300  may include and/or represent a heatsink  104 ( 1 ) and a heatsink  104 ( 2 ), springs  304 ( 1 ) and springs  304 ( 2 ), and pressure plate  108 . In this example, heatsink  104 ( 1 ) may be spring-loaded by springs  304 ( 1 ) to press against a heat-emitting component coupled to circuit board  110 . In addition, heatsink  104 ( 2 ) may be spring-loaded by springs  304 ( 2 ) to press against an additional heat-emitting component coupled to circuit board  110 . In one example, mounting posts may secure pressure plate  108  to backing plate  114 , which is applied and/or positioned opposite circuit board  110  to pressurize and/or lock pressure plate  108  against heatsinks  104 ( 1 ) and  104 ( 2 ) via springs  304 ( 1 ) and  304 ( 2 ), respectively. 
     In some examples, pressure plate  108  may include and/or represent spring-loaded extensions  318 ( 1 ) and  318 ( 2 ) that concentrate forces applied by springs  304 ( 1 ) and  304 ( 2 ) toward designated areas (e.g., pedestals) of heatsinks  104 ( 1 ) and  104 ( 2 ), respectively. For example, spring-loaded extension  318 ( 1 ) may include and/or incorporate springs  304 ( 1 ) that press and/or extend another surface and/or platform from pressure plate  108 . In this example, the extensible surface and/or platform may constitute and/or represent a contact area positioned atop heatsink  104 ( 1 ) opposite the pedestal of heatsink  104 ( 1 ). By positioning the contact area atop heatsink  104 ( 1 ) in this way, the boundary of the contact area may substantially align with the boundary of the pedestal of heatsink  104 ( 1 ). Thus, pressure plate  108  may avoid making contact with heatsink  104 ( 1 ) outside of the contact area to protect the structural integrity of heatsink  104 ( 1 ). 
     As another example, spring-loaded extension  318 ( 2 ) may include and/or incorporate springs  304 ( 2 ) that press and/or extend another surface and/or platform from pressure plate  108 . In this example, the extensible surface and/or platform may constitute and/or represent another contact area positioned atop heatsink  104 ( 2 ) opposite the pedestal of heatsink  104 ( 2 ). By positioning the other contact area atop heatsink  104 ( 2 ) in this way, the boundary of the other contact area may substantially align with the boundary of the pedestal of heatsink  104 ( 2 ). Thus, pressure plate  108  may avoid making contact with heatsink  104 ( 2 ) outside of the contact area to protect the structural integrity of heatsink  104 ( 2 ). 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary apparatus  400  for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , exemplary apparatus  400  may include and/or represent various features, components, and/or devices that make up and/or form a spring-loaded heatsink. For example, apparatus  400  may include and/or represent heatsink  104 , springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ), and pressure plate  108 . In some examples, apparatus  400  may include and/or represent any of the features, components, and/or devices described above in connection with apparatus  100  in  FIG.  1    and/or apparatus  300  in  FIG.  3   . 
     In some examples, heatsink  104  may include and/or represent a base  406 . In one example, base  406  of heatsink  104  may include and/or incorporate a vapor chamber  404 . Additionally or alternatively, heatsink  104  may include and/or represent a plurality of fins  402  coupled to base  406 . 
     In some examples, heatsink  104  may include and/or represent a reinforcement pillar  408  that extends, runs, and/or spans across at least one portion of vapor chamber  404 . In one example, reinforcement pillar  408  may strengthen and/or improve the structural integrity of base  406  to withstand the pressure and/or compression applied by springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) without collapsing and/or breaking down. Additionally or alternatively, heatsink  104  may include and/or represent a reinforcement standoff  410  that extends, runs, and/or spans at least the length of fins  402  (or slightly higher) from base  406 . In certain examples, reinforcement standoff  410  may strengthen and/or improve the structural integrity of fins  402  to withstand the pressure applied by springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) without collapsing and/or breaking down. For example, pressure plate  108  may make direct contact with reinforcement standoff  410  instead of fins  402 . By doing so, pressure plate  108  may concentrate the forces applied by springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ) toward the designated area of heatsink  104  via reinforcement standoff  410  without applying too much pressure fins  402  or risking damage to fins  402 . 
     Reinforcement pillar  408  and/or reinforcement standoff  410  may include and/or contain a variety of materials. Examples of such materials include, without limitation, metals, steels, copper, aluminum, alloys, plastics, polymers, combinations or variations of one or more of the same, and/or any other suitable materials. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates an exemplary apparatus  500  for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , exemplary apparatus  500  may include and/or represent various features, components, and/or devices that make up and/or form a spring-loaded heatsink. For example, apparatus  500  may include and/or represent heatsink  104 , springs  106 ( 1 ) and  106 ( 2 ), and pressure plate  108 . In some examples, apparatus  500  may include and/or represent any of the features, components, and/or devices described above in connection with apparatus  100  in  FIG.  1   , apparatus  300  in  FIG.  3   , and/or apparatus  400  in  FIG.  4   . 
     In some examples, pressure plate  108  may include and/or form an opening  508  fitted to accommodate a heatsink  504 . For example, heatsink  504  may include and/or represent a segment  506  that passes through opening  504  of pressure plate  108  to make contact with a heat-emitting component  510 . In this example, by making such contact, segment  506  may thermally couple heatsink  504  to heat-emitting component  510 . 
     In some examples, heatsinks  104  and  504  may be thermally isolated from one another. Thus, heatsinks  104  and  504  may essentially constitute and/or form a split heatsink assembly. The thermal isolation between heatsinks  104  and  504  may accommodate, support, and/or facilitate the individual cooling needs and/or temperature regulation of heat-emitting components  102  and  510 . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an exemplary network rack  600  that houses and/or holds rackmount network devices. As illustrated in  FIG.  6   , network rack  600  may include various holes for mounting rackmount network devices. In this example, network rack  600  may house and/or maintain rackmount network devices of various sizes. These sizes may be represented in rack units (such as 1U, 2U, 3U, 4U, 5U, etc.). 
       FIG.  7    illustrates an exemplary rackmount computing device  700  that fits within network rack  600  in  FIG.  6   . As illustrated in  FIG.  7   , rackmount computing device  700  may be configured to fit within network rack  600  in  FIG.  6   . Accordingly, rackmount computing device  700  may be housed by network rack  600 . In this example, rackmount computing device  700  may represent a rackmount switch or router. Rackmount computing device  700  may house and/or incorporate all or portions of apparatuses  100 ,  300 ,  400 , and  500 . In other words, rackmount computing device  700  may contain all the spring-loaded heatsink assemblies and/or corresponding components included in any one of those apparatuses. 
       FIG.  8    is a flow diagram of an exemplary method  800  for assembling and/or manufacturing an apparatus for mitigating deformation of spring-loaded heatsinks. Method  800  may include the step of thermally coupling, via a spring-loaded heat exchanger, a designated area of a heatsink to a heat-emitting component mounted to a circuit board ( 810 ). Step  810  may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 7   . For example, a computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may thermally couple, via a spring-loaded heat exchanger, a designated area of a heatsink to a heat-emitting component mounted to a circuit board. 
     Method  800  may also include the step of applying, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a plurality of springs that impart forces to support the thermal coupling between the designated area of the heatsink and the heat-emitting component ( 820 ). Step  820  may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection with FIGS.  1 - 7 . For example, a computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may apply, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a plurality of springs that impart forces to support the thermal coupling between the designated area of the heatsink and the heat-emitting component. 
     Method  800  may further include the step of applying, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a pressure plate that concentrates the forces imparted by the springs toward the designated area of the heatsink ( 830 ). Step  830  may be performed in a variety of ways, including any of those described above in connection with  FIGS.  1 - 7   . For example, a computing equipment manufacturer or subcontractor may apply, to the spring-loaded heat exchanger, a pressure plate that concentrates the forces imparted by the springs toward the designated area of the heatsink. 
     While the foregoing disclosure sets forth various embodiments using specific block diagrams, flowcharts, and examples, each block diagram component, flowchart step, operation, and/or component described and/or illustrated herein may be implemented, individually and/or collectively, using a wide range of hardware, software, or firmware (or any combination thereof) configurations. In addition, any disclosure of components contained within other components should be considered exemplary in nature since many other architectures can be implemented to achieve the same functionality. 
     The process parameters and sequence of the steps described and/or illustrated herein are given by way of example only and can be varied as desired. For example, while the steps illustrated and/or described herein may be shown or discussed in a particular order, these steps do not necessarily need to be performed in the order illustrated or discussed. The various exemplary methods described and/or illustrated herein may also omit one or more of the steps described or illustrated herein or include additional steps in addition to those disclosed. 
     The preceding description has been provided to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize various aspects of the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. This exemplary description is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. Reference should be made to the appended claims and their equivalents in determining the scope of the instant disclosure. 
     Unless otherwise noted, the terms “connected to” and “coupled to” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as permitting both direct and indirect (i.e., via other elements or components) connection. In addition, the terms “a” or “an,” as used in the specification and claims, are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” Finally, for ease of use, the terms “including” and “having” (and their derivatives), as used in the specification and claims, are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.”