Patent Publication Number: US-2007120777-A1

Title: Light emitting device and method of driving the same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a light emitting device, and a method of driving the same. Particularly, the present invention relates to a light emitting device in which cross-talk phenomenon is not occurred, and a method of driving the same.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      A light emitting device emits a light having a certain wavelength when a predetermined voltage is provided thereto.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a common light emitting device.  
      In  FIG. 1 , the light emitting device includes a panel  100 , a controller  102 , a first scan driving circuit  106 , a discharging circuit  108 , a precharging circuit  110 , and a data driving circuit  112 .  
      The panel  100  includes a plurality of pixels E 11  to E 44  formed in cross areas of data lines D 1  to D 4  and scan lines S 1  to S 4 .  
      The controller  302  receives display data from an outside apparatus, and controls the scan driving circuits  104  and  106 , the discharging circuit  108 , the precharging circuit  110 , and the data driving circuit  112 , by using the received display data.  
      The first scan driving circuit  104  transmits first scan signals to a part of the scan lines S 1  to S 4 , e.g. S 1  and S 3 .  
      The second scan driving circuit  106  transmits second scan signals to the other scan lines S 2  and S 4 . As a result, the scan lines S 1  to S 4  are connected in sequence to a ground.  
      The discharging circuit  108  is connected to the data lines D 1  to D 4 , and discharges the data lines to a certain discharge voltage. For example, the discharging circuit  108  discharges the data lines D 1  to D 4  to a zener voltage of a zener diode ZD by using the zener diode included therein.  
      The precharging circuit  110  provides a precharge current corresponding to the display data to the discharged data lines D 1  to D 4  under control of the controller  102 .  
      The data driving circuit  112  provides data signals, i.e. data current, corresponding to the display data to the precharged data lines D 1  to D 4  under control of the controller  102 . As a result, pixels E 11  to E 44  emit a light.  
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are views schematically illustrating circuitries of the light emitting device of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 2D  are timing diagrams illustrating a process of driving the light emitting device.  
      Hereinafter, cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  will be explained, and then the process of driving the light emitting device will be described in detail. Here, cathode voltages VC 11  to VC  41  of the pixels E 11  to E 41  corresponding to a first scan line S 1  will be described as an example of the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  for convenience of the description.  
      First, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  will be explained.  
      As shown in  FIG. 2A , a resistor between a pixel E 11  and the ground is scan resistor Rs, and a resistor between a pixel E 21  and the ground is Rs+Rp. In addition, a resistor between a pixel E 31  and the ground is Rs+2 Rp, and a resistor between a pixel E 41  and the ground is Rs+3 Rp. Here, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 41  of the pixels E 11  to E 41  are proportioned to corresponding resistors, and thus the cathode voltages VC 41 , VC 31 , VC 21  and VC 11  have sequential magnitude.  
      In  FIG. 2B , a resistor between a pixel E 12  and the ground is Rs+3 Rp, and so a cathode voltage VC 12  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 .  
      Second, the process of driving the light emitting device will be described in detail.  
      A switch SW is turned on, and so the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged to a certain discharge voltage during a first discharge period of time (dcha 1 ). In this case, the scan lines S 1  to S 4  are coupled to a non-luminescent source having same magnitude as a driving voltage of the light emitting device.  
      Subsequently, a precharge current corresponding to first display data is provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 .  
      Then, the first scan line S 1  is coupled to the ground as shown in  FIG. 2A , and the other scan lines S 2  to S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source.  
      Subsequently, data currents  111 ,  121 ,  131  and  141  corresponding to the first display data are provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 . As a result, the pixels E 11  to E 41  emit a light during a first luminescent period of time.  
      Hereinafter, the pixel E 41  is preset to have same brightness as the pixel E 11 .  
      At the time of discharge, the data lines D 1  and D 4  are discharged to the same discharge voltage, and so anode voltages VA 11  and VA 41  of pixels E 11  and E 41  have same magnitude according to the data currents I 11  and I 41 , as shown in  FIG. 2D . In this case, the pixel E 11  emits a light having a brightness corresponding to the difference of the anode voltage VA 11  and the cathode voltage VC 11 , and the pixel E 41  emits a light having a brightness corresponding to the difference of the anode voltage VA 41  and the cathode voltage VC 41 . Here, the anode voltages VA 11  and VA 41  have same magnitude, but the cathode voltage VC 41  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 . Accordingly, though the pixels E 11  and E 41  are preset to emit a light having the same brightness, the pixel E 41  has brightness smaller than the pixel E 11 . This is referred to as cross-talk phenomenon.  
      The process of driving the light emitting device will be described below.  
      The scan lines S 1  to S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source, and the switch SW is turned on. As a result, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged up to a certain discharge voltage during a second discharge period of time (dcha 2 ).  
      Subsequently, a precharge current corresponding to second display data is provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 , wherein the second display data are inputted to the controller  102  after the first display data are inputted to the controller  102 .  
      Then, the second scan line S 2  is coupled to the ground, and the other scan lines S 1 , S 3  and S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source.  
      Subsequently, data currents  112 ,  122 ,  132  and  142  corresponding to the second display data are provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 , and so the pixels E 12  to E 42  emit a light during a second luminescent period of time (t 2 ).  
      Below, the pixel E 12  is assumed to be designed to have the same brightness as the pixel E 11 . Here, a discharge voltage corresponding to the second discharge period of time (dcha 2 ) is substantially identical to the discharge voltage corresponding to the first discharge period of time (dcha 1 ), and thus an anode voltage VA 12  has same magnitude as the anode voltage VA 11 . In this case, the pixel E 11  emits a light having a brightness corresponding to the difference of the anode voltage VA 11  and the cathode voltage VC 11 , and the other pixel E 12  emits a light having a brightness corresponding to the difference of the anode voltage VA 12  and the cathode voltage VC 12 . Here, the anode voltage VA 11  and VA 12  have same magnitude, but the cathode voltage VC 12  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 . Accordingly, though the pixels E 11  and E 12  are preset to have the same brightness, the pixel E 12  has brightness smaller than the other pixel E 11 .  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is a feature of the present invention to provide a light emitting device in which cross-talk phenomenon is not occurred and a method of driving the same.  
      According to one embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting device includes data lines, scan lines, a plurality of pixels, and a discharging circuit. The data lines are disposed in a first direction. The scan lines are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction. The pixels are formed in cross areas of the data lines and the scan lines. The discharging circuit discharges at least two data lines. Here, the two data lines are discharged to different discharge voltages.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting device includes data lines, scan lines, and a plurality of pixels. The data lines are disposed in a first direction. The scan lines are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction. The pixels are formed in cross areas of the data lines and the scan lines. Here, an anode voltage of at least one pixel has magnitude corresponding to its cathode voltage and display data.  
      According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electroluminescent device includes data lines, scan lines, a plurality of pixels, a first sub discharging circuit, and a second sub discharging circuit. The data lines are disposed in a first direction. The scan lines are disposed in a second direction different from the first direction. The pixels are formed in cross areas of the data lines and the scan lines. The first sub discharging circuit provides a first voltage to a first outmost data line of the data lines. The second sub discharging circuit provides a second voltage to a second outmost data line. Here, the second voltage has different magnitude from the first voltage. When a data current of same brightness is provided to the data lines, each anode voltages of pixels corresponding to the scan line has different magnitude depending on corresponding cathode voltage.  
      A method of driving a light emitting device having a plurality of pixels formed in cross areas of data lines and scan lines according to one embodiment of the present invention includes providing a first voltage to a first outmost data line of the data lines; and providing a second voltage to a second outmost data line. Here, each anode voltage of pixels corresponding to the scan line has different size depending on corresponding cathode voltage.  
      As described above, in the light emitting device and the method of driving the same according to one embodiment of the present invention, the discharge voltages are changed depending on the cathode voltages, and thus cross-talk phenomenon is not occurred. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above and other features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a common light emitting device;  
       FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  are views illustrating circuitries of the light emitting device of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 2D  are timing diagrams illustrating a process of driving the light emitting device;  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  are views illustrating circuitries of the light emitting device of  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 4D  are timing diagrams illustrating a process of driving the light emitting device;  
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a circuitry of a light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a circuitry of the light emitting device of  FIG. 6 ; and  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
      Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.  
      In  FIG. 3 , the light emitting device of the present invention includes a panel  300 , a controller  302 , a first scan driving circuit  304 , a second scan driving circuit  306 , a discharging circuit  308 , a precharging circuit  310 , and a data driving circuit  312 .  
      The light emitting device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes an organic electroluminescent device, a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display, and others. Hereinafter, the organic electroluminescent device will be described as an example of the light emitting device for convenience of the description.  
      The panel  300  includes a plurality of pixels E 11  to E 44  formed in cross areas of data lines D 1  to D 4  and scan lines S 1  to S 4 .  
      Each of the pixels E 11  to E 44  includes an anode electrode layer, an organic layer, and a cathode electrode layer formed in sequence on a substrate.  
      The controller  302  receives display data, e.g. RGB data, inputted from an outside apparatus, and controls the scan driving circuits  304  and  306 , the discharging circuit  308 , the precharging circuit  310 , and the data driving circuit  312 , by using the received display data. In addition, the controller  302  may store the received display data in its memory.  
      The first scan driving circuit  304  transmits first scan signals to a part of the scan lines S 1  to S 4 , e.g. S 1  and S 3 .  
      The second scan driving circuit  306  transmits second scan signals to the other scan lines S 2  and S 4 . As a result, the scan lines S 1  to S 4  are coupled to a luminescent source, e.g. ground.  
      The discharging circuit  308  makes the data lines D 1  to D 4  discharge voltages corresponding to cathode voltages of the pixels E 11  to E 44 , and includes a first sub discharging circuit  320  and a second sub discharging circuit  322 .  
      The first sub discharging circuit  320  is coupled to a first outmost data line D 1  of outmost data lines D 1  and D 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and provides a first voltage to the first outmost data line D 1 .  
      The second sub discharging circuit  322  is coupled to a second outmost data line D 4  as shown in  FIG. 3 , and provides a second voltage to the second outmost data line D 4 . Here, the second voltage has a different magnitude from the first voltage.  
      Hereinafter, the sub discharging circuits  320  and  322  will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
      The precharging circuit  310  provides a precharge current corresponding to the display data to the discharged data lines D 1  to D 4  under control of the controller  302 .  
      The data driving circuit  312  provides data signals, i.e. data current, corresponding to the display data to the precharged data lines D 1  to D 4  under control of the controller  302 . As a result, the pixels E 11  to E 44  emit a light.  
      Hereinafter, a process of driving the light emitting device will be described in detail.  
      The first scan line S 1  is coupled to the ground, and the other scan lines S 2  to S 4  are coupled to a non-luminescent source having the same voltage as the driving voltage of the light emitting device.  
      Subsequently, a first data current corresponding to first display data is provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 . In this case, the first data current provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4  passes to the ground through corresponding pixels E 11  to E 41  and the first scan line S 1 . As a result, the pixels E 11  to E 41  corresponding to the first scan line S 1  emit a light.  
      Then, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged up to voltages corresponding to cathode voltages of the pixels E 11  to E 41  for a discharge period of time.  
      Subsequently, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are precharged to a level corresponding to second display data inputted to the controller  302  after the first display data are inputted to the controller  302 .  
      Then, the second scan line S 2  is coupled to the ground, and the other scan lines S 1 , S 3  and S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source.  
      Subsequently, a second data current corresponding to the second display data is provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 . As a result, the pixels E 12  to E 42  corresponding to the second scan line S 2  emit a light.  
      Then, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged for a discharge period of time.  
      The above process is repeatedly performed from the first scan line S 1  to the fourth scan line S 4 .  
       FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B  are views schematically illustrating circuitries of the light emitting device of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4C  and  FIG. 4D  are timing diagrams illustrating a process of driving the light emitting device.  
      In  FIG. 4A , the first sub discharging circuit  320  includes a first switch (SW 1 )  400 , a first digital-analog converter (hereinafter, referred to as “first DAC”)  402 , and a first buffer  404 .  
      The second sub discharging circuit  322  includes a second switch (SW 2 )  406 , a second DAC  408 , and a second buffer  410 .  
      Hereinafter, cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  will be explained, and then the process of driving the light emitting device will be described in detail. Here, cathode voltages VC 11  to VC  41  corresponding to a first scan line S 1  will be described as an example of the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  for convenience of the description.  
      First, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  will be explained.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4A , a resistor between a pixel E 11  and the ground is scan resistor Rs, and a resistor between a pixel E 21  and the ground is Rs+Rp. In addition, a resistor between a pixel E 31  and the ground is Rs+2 Rp, and a resistor between a pixel E 41  and the ground is Rs+3 Rp. Here, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 41  of the pixels E 11  to E 41  are proportioned to resistors between corresponding pixel and the ground, and thus the values are high in the order of the cathode voltages VC 41 , VC 31 , VC 21  and VC 11 .  
      In  FIG. 4B , a resistor between a pixel E 12  and the ground is Rs+3 Rp, and so the cathode voltage VC 12  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 .  
      Second, the process of driving the light emitting device will be described in detail.  
      The discharging circuit  308  discharges the data lines D 1  to D 4 .  
      Hereinafter, a process of discharging the data lines D 1  to D 4  will be described in detail.  
      At the time of discharge, the first switch SW 1  and the second switch SW 2  are turned on, and the scan lines S 1  to S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source having a voltage V 2 .  
      Subsequently, the first DAC  402  outputs a first level voltage in accordance with a first outside voltage V 3  inputted from the outside. Here, the outputted first level voltage is inputted to the first buffer  404 . Additionally, the second DAC  408  outputs a second level voltage in accordance with a second outside voltage V 4  inputted from the outside. Here, the outputted second level voltage is inputted to the second buffer  410 .  
      Then, the first buffer  404  provides a certain current to the first outmost data line D 1  in accordance with the inputted first level voltage, and so the first outmost data line D 1  has a first voltage. In addition, the second buffer  410  provides a certain current to the second outmost data line D 4  in accordance with the inputted second level voltage, and so the second outmost data line D 4  has a second voltage different from the first voltage. Accordingly, the data lines D 1  to D 4  have sequentially different magnitudes of voltages, and thus are discharged up to different disaharge levels from each other at the time of discharge.  
      Only, in the above case, the cathode voltage VC 41  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 , and thus the second voltage is higher than the first voltage.  
      Hereinafter, the pixel E 41  is assumed to be designed to have the same brightness as the pixel E 11 .  
      In this case, the cathode voltage VC 41  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11 , and thus the fourth data line D 4  is discharged up to a discharge voltage higher than the first data line D 1  during a first discharge period of time (dcha 1 ) as shown in  FIG. 4D .  
      Subsequently, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are precharged for a first precharge period of time (pcha 1 ). In this case, because the fourth data line D 4  is discharged up to the discharge voltage higher than the first data line D 1 , the fourth data line D 4  is precharged to a voltage higher than the first data line D 1 .  
      Then, the first scan line S 1  is coupled to the ground, and the other scan lines S 2  to S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source.  
      Subsequently, data currents I 11  to I 41  corresponding to first display data are provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 , and then the data currents I 11  to I 41  provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4  passes to the ground through corresponding pixels E 11  to E 41  and the first scan line S 1 . As a result, the pixels E 11  to E 41  corresponding to the first scan line S 1  emit a light for a first light emitting time t 1 . Only, each pixel emits a light whose brightness corresponds to the difference of its anode voltage and cathode voltage.  
      In this case, the fourth data line D 4  is more precharged than the first data line D 1 , and thus the anode voltage VA 41  is higher than the anode voltage VA 11 . Accordingly, the brightness of the pixel E 41 , i.e. VA 41 -VC 41 , is substantially identical to the brightness of the pixel E 11 , i.e. VA 11 -VC 11 .  
      A process of driving the pixel E 21  and the pixel E 31  is substantially identical to the process of the pixel E 11  and the pixel E 41 . Accordingly, since the pixels E 11  to E 41  are designed to emit a light having the same brightness, the pixels E 11  to E 41  have substantially the same brightness.  
      Hereinafter, the process of driving the light emitting device will be described.  
      The scan lines S 1  to S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source, and the first and second switches SW 1  and SW 2  are turned on.  
      Subsequently, the first sub discharging circuit  320  provides a third voltage to the first outmost data line D 1 , and the second sub discharging circuit  322  provides a fourth voltage to the second outmost data line D 4 . Here, because a cathode voltage VC 12  is higher than a cathode voltage VC 42 , the third voltage is higher than the fourth voltage. Accordingly, the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged up to discharge voltages having sequential magnitude.  
      Hereinafter, the discharge voltages corresponding to the pixels E 11  and E 12  will be compared.  
      Because the cathode voltage VC 12  of the pixel E 12  is higher than the cathode voltage VC 11  of the pixel E 11 , the data line D 1  is discharged up to a higher discharge voltage for a second discharge period of time (dcha 2 ) than a first discharge period of time (dcha 1 ).  
      Subsequently, a precharge current corresponding to second display data is provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 . Here, the second display data are inputted to the controller  302  after the first display data are inputted to the controller  302 .  
      Then, the second scan line S 2  is coupled to the ground, and the other scan lines S 1 , S 3  and S 4  are coupled to the non-luminescent source.  
      Subsequently, data currents  112 ,  122 ,  132  and  142  corresponding to the second display data are provided to the data lines D 1  to D 4 . In this case, because the first data line D 1  is discharged up to the higher discharge voltage for the second discharge period of time (dcha 2 ) than the first discharge period of time (dcha 1 ), an anode voltage VA 12  is higher than an anode voltage VA 11 . Accordingly, when the pixels E 11  and E 12  are preset to have the same brightness, the brightness of the pixel E 12 , i.e., VA 12 -VC 12 , is substantially identical to the brightness of the pixel E 11 , i.e., VA 11 -VC 11 .  
      In brief, in the method of driving the light emitting device of the present invention, the anode voltage of a pixel is changed depending on the cathode voltage of the pixel, unlike in the light emitting device in the art. Accordingly, when the pixels are preset to have the same brightness, the pixels emit light having the same brightness irrespective of their cathode voltages. Hence, the cross-talk phenomenon is not occurred in the panel  300  included in the light emitting device of the present invention.  
       FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a circuitry of a light emitting device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
      In  FIG. 5 , the light emitting device of the second embodiment further includes one or more third sub discharging circuits  500  than the light emitting device of the first embodiment.  
      The third sub discharging circuit  500  provides a certain voltage to data line located between the outmost data lines D 1  and D 4 . Here, the voltage has a magnitude of voltages provided to the outmost data lines D 1  and D 4 .  
      In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the resistors (Rd) between the data lines D 1  to D 4  are same, the cathode voltages corresponding to a scan line are linearly changed. Accordingly, the cathode voltages could be compensated by using only the two sub discharging circuits  320  and  322 .  
      However, the resistors between the data lines D 1  to D 4  are not the same, and so the cathode voltages may be nonlinearly changed. Accordingly, in the second embodiment, the light emitting device compensates the nonlinearly changing cathode voltages by using the third sub discharging circuit  500 .  
      The third sub discharging circuit  500  of the present invention includes a third switch  502 , a third DAC  504 , and a third buffer  506 . Since the elements of the third sub discharging circuit  500  are the same as in the first embodiment, any further detailed descriptions concerning the same elements will be omitted.  
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a circuitry of the light emitting device of  FIG. 6 .  
      In  FIG. 6 , the light emitting device of the present invention includes a panel  600 , a controller  602 , a first scan driving circuit  604 , a second scan driving circuit  606 , a discharging circuit  608 , a precharging circuit  610 , and a data driving circuit  612 .  
      Since the elements of the present invention except the discharging circuit  608  are the same as in the first embodiment, any further detailed descriptions concerning the same elements will be omitted.  
      The discharging circuit  608  includes a first sub discharging circuit  620 , a second sub discharging circuit  622 , and a third sub discharging circuit  624 .  
      The first sub discharging circuit  620  discharges the data lines D 1  to D 4  up to a certain discharge voltage. For example, the first sub discharging circuit  620  discharges the data lines D 1  to D 4  up to a zener voltage of a zener diode  702  by using the zener diode  702  included therein, as shown in  FIG. 7 .  
      The second and third discharging circuits  622  and  624  compensate the cathode voltages of the pixels E 11  to E 44 . For example, the second and third sub discharging circuits  622  and  624  include switches  704  and  710 , DACs  706  and  712 , and buffers  708  and  714 .  
      In the first embodiment, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  are compensated by using the current outputted from the buffers  404  and  410 , and so the power consumption of the light emitting device is high. However, in the third embodiment, the cathode voltages VC 11  to VC 44  are compensated by using the buffers  708  and  714  after the data lines D 1  to D 4  are discharged up to a certain discharge voltage by using the zener diode  702 . Accordingly, the power consumption of the light emitting device in the third embodiment is lower than that of the light emitting device in the first embodiment.  
       FIG. 8  is a block diagram illustrating a light emitting device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.  
      In  FIG. 8 , the light emitting device of the present invention includes a panel  800 , a controller  802 , a scan driving circuit  804 , a discharging circuit  806 , a precharging circuit  808 , and a data driving circuit  810 . Since the elements of the present embodiment are the same as the first embodiment, any further detailed description concerning the same elements will be omitted.  
      In the fourth embodiment, the scan driving circuit  804  is disposed in one direction of the panel  800  unlike the other embodiments.  
      From the preferred embodiments for the present invention, it is noted that modifications and variations can be made by a person skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that changes may be made for a particular embodiment of the present invention within the scope and the spirit of the present invention outlined by the appended claims.