Patent Publication Number: US-2023146029-A1

Title: Projection system and projection method applying the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial No. 202111311897.6, filed on Nov. 8, 2021. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to an optical system and a method of applying the optical system, and particularly relates to a projection system and a projection method applying the projection system. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A projection device is a display device configured to generate large-size images and has been continuously improving with the evolution and innovation of technologies. An imaging principle of the projection device is to convert an illumination beam generated by an illumination system into an image beam through a light valve and then project the image beam onto a projection target (e.g., a screen or a wall) through a projection lens, so as to form a projection frame. 
     In large-scale exhibitions, in order to increase projection brightness, several projection devices are often applied to project images on the same projection target, whereby brightness of the images is enhanced. Due to high costs of a projector with three light valves, several projectors each having one single light valve are often stacked to increase the brightness of the images. However, the projector with one single light valve generates monochromatic light beams (such as R, G, and B light beams) in a time sequence for mixing light, which may easily lead to a rainbow effect. Such an effect becomes apparent especially at the time of recording videos. 
     The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the described technology and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Further, the information disclosed in the Background section does not mean that one or more problems to be resolved by one or more embodiments of the invention was acknowledged by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One or more embodiments of the invention provide a projection system and a projection method applying the projection system which may reduce a rainbow effect on a projection frame. 
     Other objectives and advantages of the invention may be further understood from the technical features disclosed in the invention. 
     In order to achieve one, some, or all of the aforementioned objectives or other objectives, an embodiment of the invention provides a projection system that includes a plurality of projection devices and a control device. Each of the projection devices is configured to provide a first light beam, a second light beam, and a third light beam of different wavelengths. The projection devices include a plurality of processors and a plurality of light valves. The processors include a first processor, a second processor, and a third processor. The light valves include a first light valve, a second light valve, and a third light valve. Each of the processors is connected to one of the light valves. The control device respectively provides a first signal, a second signal, and a third signal to the first processor, the second processor, and the third processor. The first, second, and third processors respectively control the first, second, and third light valves to provide the first, second, and third light beams in turn according to the first, second, and third signals, so as to generate an image beam; in the same time sequence, the light beams provided by the first, second, and third valves controlled by the first, second, and third processors have different wavelengths. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam are respectively a red light portion, a green light portion, and a blue light portion of the image beam. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the projection devices have same specifications. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the projection devices are further configured to provide a fourth light beam whose wavelength is different from the wavelengths of the first, second, and third light beams. The projection devices further include a fourth projection device, the fourth projection device includes a fourth processor and a fourth light valve, and the control device further provides a fourth signal to the fourth processor. The first, second, third, and fourth processors respectively control the first, second, third, and fourth light valves to provide the first, second, third, and fourth light beams in turn according to the first, second, third, and fourth signals, so as to generate the image beam, and in the same time sequence, the light beams provided by the first, second, third, and fourth valves controlled by the first, second, third, and fourth processors have different wavelengths. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first light beam, the second light beam, the third light beam, and the fourth light beam are respectively a red light portion, a green light portion, a blue light portion, and a yellow light portion of the image beam. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the projection devices further include a plurality of storage units, and each of the storage units stores first information, second information, and third information. 
     In order to achieve one, some, or all of the aforementioned objectives or other objectives, an embodiment of the invention provides a projection method applying a projection system. The projection system includes a plurality of projection devices and a control device, and the projection devices include a plurality of processors and a plurality of light valves, wherein the processors include a first processor, a second processor, and a third processor, and the light valves include a first light valve, a second light valve, and a third light valve. The projection method further includes following steps. A first signal, a second signal, and a third signal are provided to the processors of the projection devices. The first, second, and third valves are controlled by the first, second, and third processors to provide the first, second, and third light beams of different wavelengths in turn according to the first, second, and third signals, and in the same time sequence, the light beams provided by the first, second, and third valves controlled by the first, second, and third processors have different wavelengths. 
     Based on the above, the projection system and the projection method applying the projection system provided in one or more embodiments of the invention at least have one of the following advantages or effects. In the projection system and the projection method applying the projection system provided in one or more embodiments of the invention, the projection system includes the projection devices and the control device, and the projection devices provide the light beams of different wavelengths in turn according to the signals provided by the control device, so as to generate the image beam. Thereby, the projection system is allowed to provide the light beams of different wavelengths in each time sequence, so as to prevent the rainbow effect on the projection frame projected by the projection system. 
     Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will be further understood from the further technological features disclosed by the embodiments of the present invention wherein there are shown and described preferred embodiments of this invention, simply by way of illustration of modes best suited to carry out the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a projection system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  2    schematically illustrates that projection devices of the projection system depicted in  FIG.  1    provide corresponding light beams in different time sequences. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates steps of a projection process applying a projection system according to an embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  4    is a schematic view of a projection system according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG.  5    schematically illustrates that projection devices of the projection system depicted in  FIG.  4    provide corresponding light beams in different time sequences. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates steps of a projection process applying a projection system according to another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. On the other hand, the drawings are only schematic and the sizes of components may be exaggerated for clarity. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. Similarly, the terms “facing,” “faces” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect facing, and “adjacent to” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass directly and indirectly “adjacent to”. Therefore, the description of “A” component facing “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component directly faces “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Also, the description of “A” component “adjacent to” “B” component herein may contain the situations that “A” component is directly “adjacent to” “B” component or one or more additional components are between “A” component and “B” component. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic view of a projection system according to an embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG.  1   , a projection system  100  is provided in this embodiment. The projection system  100  includes a plurality of projection devices  110  and a control device  120 . The control device  120  is configured to provide a control signal (e.g., a first signal S 1 , a second signal S 2 , and a third signal S 3  as shown in  FIG.  1   ) to each of the projection devices  110 . Each of the projection devices  110  is configured to provide image beams L to the same projection target (not shown), such as a screen or a wall, so that the image beams L may be overlapped to generate an image frame. The projection system  100  provided in this embodiment may at least be applied to environments or occasions that require a plurality of projection devices  110 , such as large-scale concerts, performances, art exhibitions, outdoor cinemas, and so on. 
     Each of the projection devices  110  has the same specification or model number and includes one single light valve  114 . Namely, the projection devices  110  in this embodiment each adopt one single light valve  114 , which should however not be construed as a limitation to the invention. The light valve  114  is, for instance, a reflective light modulator, such as a digital micro-mirror device (DMD), while the form and the type of the light valve  114  are not limited in the invention. 
     Each of the projection devices  110  is configured to provide light beams of different wavelengths periodically in a time sequence, so as to generate the image beams L. The image beams L comprise at least one of a first light beam, a second light beam, and a third light beam. For instance, in the present embodiment, each of the projection devices  110  provides a first light beam, a second light beam, and a third light beam in a time sequence. The first light beam is, for instance, red light, the second light beam is, for instance, green light, and the third light beam is, for instance, blue light. Therefore, the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam are the red light portion of the image beam L, the green light portion of the image beam L, and the blue light portion of the image beam L, respectively. In other words, the projection devices  110  provided in this embodiment has a RGB (red, green, and blue) three-color system. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, each of the projection devices  110  also includes a storage unit  112  configured to store information of an order of providing the light beams. The storage unit  112  is, for instance, a storage device, such as a memory, a hard disk drive, and so on. For instance, In the present embodiment, each storage unit  112  stores first information, second information, and third information, where the first information is an order of sequentially providing the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam, the second information is an order of sequentially providing the second light beam, the third light beam, and the first light beam, and the third information is an order of sequentially providing the third light beam, the first light beam, and the second light beam, which should however not be construed as a limitation to the invention. In other words, in the present embodiment, several ways to provide the light beams in different orders may be set in each of the projection devices  110  in advance. It is worth mentioning that the information stored in the storage unit  112  of each projection device  110  is the same. Therefore, while each of the projection devices  110  is being in use, these projection devices  110  may be freely exchanged or repaired and replaced, thereby improving convenience. 
     The projection devices  110  also include processors (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ), and the processors are, for instance, central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), programmable controllers, programmable logic devices (PLDs), other similar devices, or combinations of these devices, which should however not be construed as a limitation to the invention. The processors (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ) connect the storage units  112  and the light valves  114 . The processors (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ) are configured to read the first information, the second information, and the third information stored in the storage units  112 , so as to control the light valves  114  to project the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam in a time sequence. 
     The control device  120  is, for instance, a laptop, a mobile phone, a handheld tablet, a general computer, or the like; alternatively, the control device  120  may be a controller including a CPU, a microprocessor, a DSP, a programmable controller, a PLD, another similar device, or a combination of these devices, which should however not be construed as a limitation to the invention. The control device  120  respectively provides the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  to the first processor P 1  of the first projection device, the second processor P 2  of the second projection device, and the third processor P 3  of the third projection device. The first processor P 1  of the first projection device, the second processor P 2  of the second projection device, and the third processor P 3  of the third projection device are configured to read the first information, the second information, and the third information stored in the storage units  112  according to the received first signal S 1 , second signal S 2 , and third signal S 3 , respectively. Here, the first signal S 1  corresponds to the first information, the second signal S 2  corresponds to the second information, and the third signal S 3  corresponds to the third information. 
       FIG.  2    schematically illustrates that projection devices of the projection system depicted in  FIG.  1    provide corresponding light beams in different time sequences. With reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  2   , T in  FIG.  2    represents a cycle of processing a frame, R represents the red light portion of the image beam L, G represents the green light portion of the image beam L, and B represents the blue light portion of the image beam L. For instance, in the present embodiment, the control device  120  provides the first signal S 1  to the first processor P 1  of the projection device  110  (the first projection device), and the first processor P 1  reads the first information stored in the storage unit  112  according to the first signal S 1 . Therefore, the first processor P 1  controls the light valve  114  according to the first information to provide the first light beam (i.e., the red light portion of the image beam L) from ( 0/3)T to (⅓)T, provide the second light beam (i.e., the green light portion of the image beam L) from (⅓)T to (⅔)T, and provide the third light beam (i.e., the blue light portion of the image beam L) from (⅔)T to ( 3/3)T. In addition, the control device  120  provides the second signal S 2  to the second processor P 2  of the projection device  110  (the second projection device), and the second processor P 2  reads the second information stored in the storage unit  112  according to the second signal S 2 . Therefore, the second processor P 2  controls the light valve  114  according to the second information to provide the second light beam from ( 0/3)T to (⅓)T, provide the third light beam from (⅓)T to (⅔)T, and provide the first light beam from (⅔)T to ( 3/3)T. In addition, the control device  120  provides the third signal S 3  to the third processor P 3  of the projection device  110  (the third projection device), and the third processor P 3  reads the third information stored in the storage unit  112  according to the third signal S 3 . Therefore, according to the third information, the third processor P 3  controls the light valve  114  to provide the third light beam from ( 0/3)T to (⅓)T, provide the first light beam from (⅓)T to (⅔)T, and provide the second light beam from (⅔)T to ( 3/3)T. Therefore, the projection system  100  may provide the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam of different wavelengths in each time sequence. As such, the rainbow effect on the projection image projected by the projection system  100  may be prevented. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates steps of a projection process applying a projection system according to an embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG.  1    and  FIG.  3   , a projection method of a projection system provided in this embodiment may at least be applied to the projection system  100  depicted in  FIG.  1   , and therefore the projection system  100  depicted in  FIG.  1    is taken as an example in this embodiment. First, each of the projection devices  110  receives the same image signal provided by the control device  120 , and each of the projection devices  110  in different time sequences synchronously provides light beams corresponding to one single frame of the image signal. Step S 201  is performed to provide the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  to the individual processor of the individual projection device  110 . In other words, step S 201  is performed in an installation stage of the projection system  100 . Specifically, the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  are provided by the control device  120 , and the processors (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 ) of the projection devices  110  are configured to receive the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3 , respectively. It is worth mentioning that the processor of one single projection device receives one of the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  from the control device  120 , so as to control the light valve  114  to project one single light beam in one single time sequence [(⅓)T—(⅔)T]. In other embodiments, the connections (e.g., a 3D sync port) of the projection devices  110  through cables or in a wireless manner allow the image signal provided by the control device  120  to be synchronously transmitted to the other projection devices; on the other hand, the control device  120  may merely provide the first signal S 1  to the first processor P 1  of the first projection device, and the first processor P 1  reads the first information stored in the storage unit  112 . The other projection devices may complete said step in sequence and do not require the control device  120  to send other signals. Besides, in detail, in the present embodiment, a step of storing the first information, the second information, and the third information in the storage unit  112  is also included. That is, said step is performed in a design stage of the projection system  100 . Therefore, when the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , and the third processor P 3  receive the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3 , the corresponding first information, second information, and third information may be read according to the signals. 
     Step S 202  is then performed, wherein the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , and the third processor P 3  respectively control the corresponding light valves according to the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  to provide the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam of different wavelengths in turn, so as to generate the image beam L; in the same time sequence, the wavelengths of the light beams provided by the respective light valves correspondingly controlled by the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , and the third processor P 3  are different. In other words, step S 202  is performed in an operation stage of the projection system  100 . Particularly, in the present embodiment, the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , and the third processor P 3  read the first information according to the first signal S 1 , the second information according to the second signal S 2 , and the third information according to the third signal S 3 , respectively. Therefore, through the above steps, the projection devices  110  may provide the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam of different wavelengths in each time sequence. As such, the rainbow effect on the projection image projected by the projection system  100  may be prevented. 
       FIG.  4    is a schematic view of a projection system according to another embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG.  4   , a projection system  100 A provided in this embodiment is similar to the projection system  100  depicted in  FIG.  1   . The difference therebetween lies in that the projection devices  110  provided in this embodiment are further configured to provide a fourth light beam whose wavelength is different from those of the first light beam, the second light beam, and the third light beam. For instance, in this embodiment, the fourth light beam is yellow light, for instance. In other words, the projection devices  110  provided in this embodiment has a RGBY (red, green, blue, and yellow) four-color system. 
     In addition, in this embodiment, the fourth projection device  110  further includes a fourth processor P 4 , and the control device  120  also provides a fourth signal S 4  to the fourth processor P 4 . Similar to the embodiment depicted in  FIG.  1   , in the present embodiment, the specifications of the projection devices  110  having the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  are all the same. The storage unit  112  of each projection device  110  stores the first information, the second information, the third information, and the fourth information. 
     On the other hand, the control device  120  provides the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4  to the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4 , respectively. The first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  control the light valves respectively according to the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4 , so as to generate the image beam; in the same time sequence, the light beams (i.e., the first light beam, the second light beam, the third light beam, and the fourth light beam) provided by the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  are different. 
       FIG.  5    schematically illustrates that projection devices of the projection system depicted in  FIG.  4    provide corresponding light beams in different time sequences. With reference to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  5   , T in  FIG.  5    represents a cycle of processing a frame, R represents the red light portion of the image beam L, G represents the green light portion of the image beam L, and B represents the blue light portion of the image beam L, and Y represents the yellow light portion of the image beam L. For instance, In the present embodiment, the control device  120  provides the first signal Si to the first processor P 1  of the projection device  110  (the first projection device), and the first processor P 1  reads the first information stored in the storage unit  112  according to the first signal S 1 . Therefore, the first processor P 1  controls the light valve  114  according to the first information to provide the first light beam (i.e., the red light portion of the image beam L) from ( 0/4)T to (¼)T, provide the second light beam (i.e., the green light portion of the image beam L) from (¼)T to ( 2/4)T, provide the third light beam (i.e., the blue light portion of the image beam L) from ( 2/4)T to (¾)T, and provide the fourth light beam (i.e., the yellow light portion of the image beam L) from (¾)T to ( 4/4)T. By analogy, the control device  120  provides the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4  to the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  of the other projection devices  110 , respectively. The second processor P 2  to the fourth processor P 4  read the second information to the fourth information stored in the storage unit  112  according to the second signal S 2  to the fourth signal S 4 , respectively. 
     Therefore, the second processor P 2  provides the second light beam from ( 0/4)T to (¼)T, provides the third light beam from (¼)T to ( 2/4)T, and provides the fourth light beam from ( 2/4)T to (¾)T, and provides the first light beam from (¾)T to ( 4/4)T. The third processor P 3  provides the third light beam from ( 0/4)T to (¼)T, provides the fourth light beam from (¼)T to ( 2/4)T, provides the first light beam from ( 2/4)T to (¾)T, and provides the second light beam from (¾)T to ( 4/4)T. The fourth processor P 4  provides the fourth light beam from ( 0/4)T to (¼)T, provides the first light beam from (¼)T to ( 2/4)T, provides the second light beam from ( 2/4)T to (¾)T, and provides the third light beam from (¾)T to ( 4/4)T. Therefore, the projection system  100 A may provide the first light beam, the second light beam, the third light beam, and the fourth light beam of different wavelengths in each time sequence. As such, the rainbow effect on the projection image projected by the projection system  100 A may be prevented. 
       FIG.  6    illustrates steps of a projection process applying a projection system according to another embodiment of the invention. With reference to  FIG.  4    and  FIG.  6   , a projection method of a projection system provided in this embodiment may at least be applied to the projection system  100 A depicted in  FIG.  4   , and therefore the projection system  100 A depicted in  FIG.  4    is taken as an example in this embodiment. First, each of the projection devices  110  receives the same image signal provided by the control device  120 , and each of the projection devices  110  in different time sequences synchronously provides light beams corresponding to one single frame of the image signal. Step S 301  is performed to provide first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4  to the individual processor of the individual projection device  110 . In other words, step S 301  is performed in an installation stage of the projection system  100 A. Specifically, the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , and the third signal S 3  are provided by the control device  120 , and the processors (P 1 , P 2 , P 3 , P 4 ) of the projection devices  110  are configured to receive the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4 , respectively. Specifically, in the present embodiment, a step of storing the first information, the second information, the third information, and the fourth information in the storage unit  112  is also included. That is, said step is performed in a design stage of the projection system  100 A. Therefore, when the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  receive the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4 , the corresponding first information, second information, third information, and fourth information may be read according to the signals. 
     Step S 302  is then performed, wherein the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  respectively control the corresponding light valves according to the first signal S 1 , the second signal S 2 , the third signal S 3 , and the fourth signal S 4  to provide the first light beam, the second light beam, the third light beam, and the fourth light beam of different wavelengths in turn, so as to generate the image beam L; in the same time sequence, the wavelengths of the light beams provided by the respective light valves correspondingly controlled by the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  are different. In other words, step S 302  is performed in an operation stage of projection system  100 A. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the first processor P 1 , the second processor P 2 , the third processor P 3 , and the fourth processor P 4  read the first information according to the first signal S 1 , the second information according to the second signal S 2 , the third information according to the third signal S 3 , and the fourth information according to the fourth signal S 4 , respectively. Therefore, through the above steps, the projection devices  110  may provide the first light beam, the second light beam, the third light beam, and the fourth light beam of different wavelengths in each time sequence. As such, the rainbow effect on the projection image projected by the projection system  100 A may be prevented. 
     To sum up, in the projection system and the projection method applying the projection system provided in one or more embodiments of the invention, the projection system includes the projection devices and the control device, and the projection devices provide the light beams of different wavelengths in turn according to the different signals provided by the control device, so as to generate the image beam. Therefore, the projection system may provide the light beams of different wavelengths in each time sequence. As such, the rainbow effect on the projection image projected by the projection system may be prevented. 
     The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. The embodiments are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable persons skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents in which all terms are meant in their broadest reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Therefore, the term “the invention”, “the present invention” or the like does not necessarily limit the claim scope to a specific embodiment, and the reference to particularly preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention does not imply a limitation on the invention, and no such limitation is to be inferred. The invention is limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The abstract of the disclosure is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure of any patent issued from this disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Any advantages and benefits described may not apply to all embodiments of the invention. It should be appreciated that variations may be made in the embodiments described by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Moreover, no element and component in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element or component is explicitly recited in the following claims.