Patent Abstract:
Example personal beverage warmers and coolers for vehicle seats are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to regulate the temperature of a beverage near a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus includes: a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat in a direction that is at least one of to or from a container seated thereon, a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/347,927, filed on May 25, 2010, and entitled “Beverage Warmer and Cooler for Aircraft Passenger Seats”, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Disclosed embodiments generally relate to apparatuses for beverage temperature control, and, more particularly, to beverage temperature control or regulation apparatuses for vehicle seats. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Vehicles defined herein to include an automobile, a train, a truck, a boat or an aircraft, typically provide cupholders for holding beverage containers such as glasses, cups, bottles, cans and/or mugs. The cupholders are generally provided in the vicinity of crew member and passenger seats. For example, a cupholder may be provided in an armrest or console adjacent to a person&#39;s seat, but may also extend from a dashboard or other surface of the vehicle. The cupholders generally include a recessed portion which holds the beverage container in a stationary upright position relative to the vehicle while the vehicle accelerates, decelerates, or tilts forward, backward and to either side. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Example beverage temperature control or regulation apparatuses for vehicle seats are disclosed. A disclosed example personal beverage warmer and cooler apparatus to regulate the temperature of a beverage near a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus includes: a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat in a direction that is at least one of to or from a container seated thereon, a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween. 
         [0005]    A disclosed example seating area of a vehicle includes a temperature regulating apparatus having a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat at least one of to or from a container seated thereon, a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween. 
         [0006]    The seating area may include an additional temperature regulating apparatus. 
         [0007]    A disclosed example method includes energizing a thermoelectric device at a vehicle seat to a first state to cool a beverage container thermally coupled to the thermoelectric device when a first user input is received; and energizing the thermoelectric device to a second state to heat the beverage container when a second user input is received. 
         [0008]    The method may also include exchanging first heat between the thermoelectric device and a heat exchanger; and exchanging second heat between the heat exchanger and a liquid medium. 
         [0009]    Energizing the thermoelectric device to the first state may include applying an electrical current to a Peltier device, and energizing the thermoelectric device to second state may include applying an opposite electrical current to the Peltier device. 
         [0010]    The first user input may correspond to a first position of a switch, and the second user input may correspond to a second position of the switch. 
         [0011]    For any of the examples, the liquid medium may be air, the apparatus may also include a fan that blows air in thermal contact with the heat exchanger. 
         [0012]    For any of the examples, the thermoelectric device may be energized by a power supply to heat the base and/or to cool the base. 
         [0013]    For any of the examples, a switch may be used to change a polarity of a power supply that energizes the thermoelectric device, wherein a first state of the switch may cause the power supply to cool the base, and a second state of the switch may cause the power supply to heat the base. 
         [0014]    For any of the examples, the base may include a lock that mates with a key of an extension insert to secure the extension insert on the base, the extension insert may be dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
         [0015]    For any of the examples, the base may include a recessed portion dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
         [0016]    Any of the examples may include a power supply and a processor, the processor may control the power supply to maintained a temperature of the beverage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an exemplary passenger seat environment of a vehicle including a plurality of beverage holders. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the plurality of beverage holders of  FIG. 1A  in more detail. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates an exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler including a thermoelectric device configured to cool a beverage. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2B  schematically illustrates an exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler including a thermoelectric device configured to warm a beverage. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate opposite side views of an exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  including a beverage container seated therein. 
           [0023]      FIGS. 4B and 4C  illustrate exemplary beverage containers including extension inserts and configured to be securely seated in the beverage warmer and cooler of  FIG. 4A . 
           [0024]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler of  FIG. 3A  in which the extension inserts of  FIGS. 4B and 4C  are seated, respectively. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of another exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7A  schematically illustrates a side view of still another exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler. 
           [0027]      FIG. 7B  schematically illustrates a cut-away side view of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler of  FIG. 7A . 
           [0028]      FIG. 8A  schematically illustrates a plurality of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler of  FIG. 7A  adjacent to one another. 
           [0029]      FIGS. 8B and 8C  illustrate opposite side views of the plurality of exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler of  FIG. 8A  adjacent to one another. 
           [0030]      FIGS. 9A-9F  illustrate various views of the exemplary personal beverage warmers and coolers of  FIG. 8A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    A beverage in a beverage container held in a cupholder generally does not stay at a desired temperature. Over time, the temperature of the beverage generally trends toward the ambient air temperature of a vehicle. For example, a hot beverage such as coffee or tea may not be kept hot, and a cold beverage such as fruit juice or soda may not be kept cold for a time period long enough to enable the person to fully enjoy the beverage at their desired or preferred temperature. Thus, a person may only have a limited time to drink a beverage before its temperature becomes undesirable. While insulated beverage containers may mitigate this problem, insulated beverage containers are generally not convenient because a beverage needs to be transferred from its original container into the insulated beverage container prior to consuming the beverage. Additionally, the temperature of a beverage in an insulated beverage containers still trends toward the ambient temperature, and a person may still only have a limited time to drink a beverage before its temperature becomes undesirable, even if that limited time is greater than if the beverage were not in the insulated beverage container. 
         [0032]    Embodiments of personal beverage warmers and coolers that address at least some of the above problems are disclosed herein. The disclosed personal beverage warmers and coolers may be included in a vehicle to hold a beverage container and maintain a beverage within the beverage container at a desired temperature until the beverage has been consumed. The personal beverage warmers and coolers disclosed herein may be, for example, located in the vicinity of a person&#39;s seat, a sleeping cabin and/or at any another location within the vehicle where a person may be present during a journey, e.g., a lounge area where persons may gather to enjoy food and beverages in each other&#39;s company. Additionally or alternatively, the disclosed personal beverage warmers and coolers may be located in a pilot&#39;s cabin and/or in a galley for use by the crew of the vehicle. The personal beverage warmers and coolers may be configured or enabled by each person to keep warm beverages such as coffee, tea, and hot chocolate at their desired warm temperature(s). Likewise, the personal beverage warmers and coolers may be set or enabled by each person to keep cold beverages such as soda, water, and wine at their desired cold temperature(s). In this way, each person may consume their beverages at their own pace and at their desired temperature(s). 
         [0033]    The example personal beverage warmer and cooler disclosed herein may be an embodiment of a personal heating and cooling device, which in various embodiments may also used for heating and cooling storage of food and/or other personal items that may benefit from or need to be stored at a temperature other than an ambient air temperature. For example, some medications may need to be stored at a temperature lower than ambient air temperature while also being conveniently accessible to the person. 
         [0034]    Embodiments of personal beverage warmers and coolers disclosed herein feature a compact design and a light weight structure, both of which facilitate their widespread deployment throughout an aircraft for use by individual persons, unlike traditional refrigeration systems that are typically concentrated in galleys for use by cabin crew on behalf of all persons. In various embodiments, the disclosed personal beverage warmers and coolers may be integrated with aircraft heat-sink systems and/or other aircraft components to increase operational efficiency. 
         [0035]      FIG. 1A  illustrates an exemplary passenger seat environment  100  of a vehicle including a plurality of beverage holders  110 . The passenger seat environment  100  may be, for example, a super first class seat of an aircraft. The example passenger seat environment  100  of  FIG. 1  includes a cushioned seat  120  in which a person may be seated. To the left of the seat  120  is a doorway  130  through which the person may enter and exit the passenger seat environment  100 . In front of the seat  120  is a tray  140  on which the person may place reading materials such as books, magazines, and catalogs, food service items such as plates, silverware, napkins, cups, glasses, laptop computers, and/or other items that a person may desire to have ready access to during a journey. The tray  140  may be collapsible or retractable so that the person may stow the tray when not in use. The tray  140  may be coupled with a console  150  positioned to the right of the cushioned seat  120 , or on an opposite side of the passenger seat environment  100  than the doorway  130 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 1B  illustrates the example plurality of beverage holders  110  of  FIG. 1A  in more detail. The example beverage holders  110  may each hold a different beverage container. In this way, a person may conveniently have ready access to a plurality of beverages during a journey. For example, the person may have different brands of juice, water, and soda ready and available for consumption whenever the person chooses. In the illustrated example of  FIGS. 1A and 1B , the beverage holders  110  are arranged in a row within a beverage holder zone  160 . However, the beverage holders  110  may be implemented in other arrangements. The beverage holder zone  160  may also include a beverage holder zone lid  170  that may be open when beverages are placed in the beverage holders  110 , and closed when no beverages are placed in the beverage holders  110 . One or more of the beverage holders  110  may include an embodiment of the personal beverage warmers and coolers disclosed herein. 
         [0037]      FIG. 2A  schematically illustrates an exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  210  including an example thermoelectric device  220  configured to cool a beverage. A beverage container  225  containing a beverage, which a user wants to consume cool or cold, may be seated on an example cooling plate or base  230 . The cooling plate  230  of  FIG. 2A  cools the beverage through thermal contact with the beverage container  225  containing the beverage. The cooling plate  230  is cooled by the thermoelectric device  220 . The thermoelectric device  220  of  FIG. 2A  may include a Peltier device that uses a Peltier effect in which a voltage is applied across or direct current (DC) is passed through two dissimilar conductors to create an electrical circuit that transfers heat in a direction of charge carrier movement. In this way, the thermoelectric device  220  provides direct heat transfer from the cooling plate  230  through the thermoelectric device  220  into a heat sink or heat exchanger  240 . The heat sink  240  of  FIG. 2A  is cooled by air circulation driven by a fan  250 . Thus, the example device  220  of  FIG. 2A  is air-cooled. The thermoelectric device  220  is operated by an example direct current power supply  260  electrically coupled with the thermoelectric device  220  and having a polarity that causes the thermoelectric device  220  to transfer heat in a direction from the cooling plate  230  toward the heat sink  240 . In some embodiments, the DC power supply  260  is coupled with an aircraft&#39;s 28 volts of direct current (VDC) power supply, or converted from aircraft&#39;s fixed-frequency or variable-frequency alternating current (AC) power. 
         [0038]    The DC power supply  260  of  FIG. 2A  may be controlled by switches, electronic circuitry, or an electronic control system  265 . The electronic circuitry or electronic control system  265  may be equipped with temperature sensors (not shown) to monitor a temperature of the cooling plate  230  and, thus, control the thermoelectric device  220  to maintain a desired preset or user-selectable temperature of the cooling plate  230 . The electronic control system  265  may also include a processor and a memory (not shown) storing a software program executable by the processor for performing a method of controlling the personal beverage warmer and cooler  210  to maintain a desired temperature of a beverage container  225  seated thereon. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic control system  265  may include one or more circuit(s), programmable processor(s), fuses, application-specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)), field-programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), and/or field-programmable gate array(s) (FPGA(s)), etc. configured to control the personal beverage warmer and cooler  210  to maintain a desired temperature of a beverage container  225  seated thereon. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2B  schematically illustrates another exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  including the thermoelectric device  220  configured to warm a beverage. A beverage container  275  containing a beverage, which a user wants to consume hot or warm, may be seated on an example heating plate or base  280 . The personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  of  FIG. 2B  is similar to the personal beverage warmer and cooler  210  of  FIG. 2A  except that a polarity of the DC power supply  260  is reversed in the personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  compared to the personal beverage warmer and cooler  210 . In this way, the heating plate or base  280  may heat the beverage through thermal contact with the beverage container  275  containing the beverage. In some embodiments, the heating plate  280  may be identical to the cooling plate  230 . In other words, a single thermal plate or base may be functional as either the cooling plate  230  or the heating plate  280  depending upon the operational conditions of the thermoelectric device  220 , that is, the selected polarity of the DC power supply  260 . The heating plate  280  may be heated by the thermoelectric device  220 . The thermoelectric device  220  may use a Peltier effect to provide direct heat transfer to the heating plate  280  through the thermoelectric device  220  from a cold side or heat exchanger  290 . In some embodiments, the cold side  290  includes a heat exchanger substantially identical to that of the heat sink  240 . In other words, a single heat exchanger may function as either the heat sink  240  or the cold side  290  depending upon the operational conditions of the thermoelectric device  220 , that is, the selected polarity of the DC power supply  260 . The cold side  290  of  FIG. 2B  is warmed by air circulation driven by the fan  250 . The thermoelectric device  220  is operated by the DC power supply  260  electrically coupled with the thermoelectric device  220  using a polarity that causes the thermoelectric device  220  to transfer heat in a direction from the cold side  290  toward the heating plate  280 . The polarity of the DC power supply  260  in the personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  of  FIG. 2B  is opposite that of the polarity of the DC power supply  260  in the personal beverage warmer and cooler  210  of  FIG. 2B . 
         [0040]    The DC power supply  260  of  FIG. 2B  may be controlled by switches, electronic circuitry, or an electronic control system  265 . The electronic circuitry or electronic control system  265  may be equipped with temperature sensors (not shown) to monitor a temperature of the heating plate  280  and, thus, control the thermoelectric device  220  to maintain a desired preset and/or user-selectable temperature of the heating plate  280 . The electronic control system  265  may also include a processor and a memory (not shown) including a software program executable by the processor for performing a method of controlling the personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  to maintain a desired temperature of a beverage container  225  seated thereon. Additionally or alternatively, the electronic control system  265  may include one or more circuit(s), programmable processor(s), fuses, ASIC(s), PLD(s), FPLD(s), and/or FPGA(s), etc. configured to control the personal beverage warmer and cooler  270  to maintain a desired temperature of a beverage container  225  seated thereon. 
         [0041]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate opposite side views of an exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  300 . The example personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  of FIGS.  3 A and  3 B includes a control panel region  310  including control switch  312  and an indicator  314 . The control switch  312  may include a toggle switch, a rocker switch, a button, a dial, or any other user input mechanism (e.g., a three-way switch having states of “cold”, “warm” and “off”) by which a person may set operational parameters for the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300 . The indicator  314  may include an incandescent light, a light emitting diode (LED), an liquid crystal display (LCD) device, or other form of display device. For example, a person may set the control switch  312  to a desired heating position or user-selectable temperature, and the indicator  314  may indicate that the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  is set to a heating mode (e.g., glow red). Alternatively, the person may set the control switch  312  to a desired cooling position or user-selectable temperature, and the indicator  314  may indicate that the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  is set to a cooling mode (e.g., glow blue). Otherwise, the person may set the control switch  312  to an off position, and the indicator  314  may indicate that the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  is turned off (e.g., glow yellow or not glow at all). 
         [0042]    The personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  includes an air inlet  320  through which circulating air enters and is blown by an air circulating fan  330  onto a heat exchanger such as the heat sink  240  or  290  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ) coupled with a thermoelectric device such as the thermoelectric device  220 . After the circulating air has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric device  220  via the heat exchanger  240  or  290 , the circulating air exits the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  via an air outlet  340 . When the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  is operating in a heating mode, the circulating air exiting the air outlet  340  may be cool. When the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  is operating in a cooling mode, the circulating air exiting the air outlet  340  may be warm. The personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  may also include a recessed portion which holds a beverage container such as a cup or mug  350 , and the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  may also include a notch  360  for a handle of the cup or mug  350 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  including an example mug  410  seated therein. The cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4A  is vertically at a lowest point of the notch  360 . FIGS.  4 B and  4 C illustrate exemplary beverage containers including extension inserts  450  and  460  and configured to be securely seated in the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  of  FIG. 4A . The mug  410  may be designed and used to hold a beverage after being poured out of a separate beverage container into the mug  410 . The extension insert  450  may be designed and used to hold a tall beverage container such as a bottle of wine, while the extension insert  460  may be designed and used to hold a shorter beverage container such as a soda can. 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , an example locking mechanism  420  is positioned in a central area of an example recessed portion or base  425  of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  under the mug  410 . The locking mechanism  420  of  FIG. 4A  includes a cut-out region of the base  425  in which a matching key  430  of a beverage container or extension inserts  450  and  460  to lock or secure the beverage container or extension inserts  450  and  460  into position within the base  425  of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300 . In some embodiments, the extension inserts  450  and  460  click into place when the key  430  is inserted into the locking mechanism  420 . Additionally or alternatively, the extension inserts  450  and  460  may be held in place in the base  425  by friction between the key  430  and the locking mechanism  420 , and/or when the extension inserts  450  and  460  are rotated within the base  425 . In other embodiments, the locking mechanism  420  and the key  430  are interchanged, such that the extension inserts  450  and  460  include the locking mechanism  420  while the base  425  includes the key  430 . 
         [0045]    The mug  410  and extension inserts  450  and  460  of  FIGS. 4A-4C  include thermal insulation material  440  to insulate a beverage contained within the mug  410  and the extension inserts  450  and  460  such that the beverage does not quickly lose heat or cold due to ambient temperature conditions, and to keep a surface temperature of an outside of the mug  410  and extension inserts  450  and  460  comfortable for a person to touch. In order to provide efficient thermal transfer between the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  and a beverage contained within the extension inserts  450  and  460 , the extension inserts  450  and  460  may include a thermal conductive material  470  at their base. The thermal conductive material  470  may be in thermal contact with the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  when the extension inserts  450  and  460  are inserted into the base  425  of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300 . 
         [0046]      FIGS. 5A and 5B  illustrate the exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  in which the extension inserts  450  and  460  of  FIGS. 4B and 4C  are seated, respectively. 
         [0047]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of another exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  600 . The personal beverage warmer and cooler  600  of  FIG. 6  is similar to the personal beverage warmer and cooler  300  illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  except that the personal beverage warmer and cooler  600  includes a notch  610  for a handle of a beverage container (e.g., the mug  350 ) on both sides of a recessed portion  615  in which the beverage container may be seated. The personal beverage warmer and cooler  600  of  FIG. 6  includes a thermally conductive material  620  surrounding the recessed portion  615  and a base  630  (e.g., the cooling plate  230  and/or the heating plate  280  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B ). The thermally conductive material  620  may improve thermal conduction between the base  630  of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  600  and a beverage container such as the mug  350  or the extension inserts  450  and  460 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 7A  schematically illustrates a side view of still another exemplary personal beverage warmer and cooler  700 .  FIG. 7B  schematically illustrates a cut-away side view of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  of  FIG. 7A . The personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  includes a thermally conductive material  705  forming a recessed portion  710  in which a cup, mug and/or extension inserts may be seated. The conductive material  705  may be functionally similar to the conductive material  620  described with reference to the personal beverage warmer and cooler  600  of  FIG. 6 . The personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  also includes an air inlet  720  on a side, and an air outlet  730  on a bottom of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  700 . A fan  740  within the personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  circulates air from the air inlet  720 , into operational proximity with a heat exchanger  760  such as the heat sink  240  or cold side  290  ( FIGS. 2A and 2B ) coupled with a thermoelectric module  750  (e.g., the thermoelectric device  220 ), and out through the air outlet  730 . The personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  may make more efficient use of space in an installation than the personal beverage warmer and coolers  300  and  600  and may, therefore, be well suited for use in the passenger seat environment  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 8A  schematically illustrates a plurality of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and coolers  700  of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  assembled or situated adjacent to one another. As shown in  FIG. 8A , the plurality of personal beverage warmer and coolers  700  may be assembled within the beverage holder zone  160  ( FIGS. 1A and 1B ) to serve as the plurality of beverage holders  110  illustrated in  FIG. 1 .  FIGS. 8B and 8C  illustrate opposite side views of the plurality of exemplary personal beverage warmer and coolers  700  of  FIG. 8A  assembled or situated adjacent to one another. As illustrated in  FIG. 8C , the personal beverage warmer and coolers  700  may hold beverage containers such as the mug  350  and/or the extension inserts  450  and  460 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 8B and 8C , a control panel  810  including a control switch and an indicator may be disposed at a top surface of the personal beverage warmer and cooler  700  adjacent to the recessed area in which the mug  350  and/or the extension inserts  450  and  460  may be seated. The example control panel  810  may be substantially similar to the control panel  310 , and may include a control switch similar to the control switch  312  and an indicator similar to the indicator  314  as described elsewhere herein. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9A-9F  illustrate various views of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and coolers  700  of  FIGS. 7A ,  7 B,  8 A,  8 B, and  8 C. 
         [0051]    Functions of the exemplary personal beverage warmer and coolers disclosed herein may be controlled by a controller according to instructions of a software and/or firmware program executed by a processor of the controller. Alternatively, some or all of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented using any combination(s) of fuses, ASIC(s), PLD(s), FPLD(s), FPGA(s), discrete logic, hardware, firmware, etc. Also, some or all of the disclosed embodiments may be implemented manually or as any combination of any of the foregoing techniques, for example, any combination of firmware, software, discrete logic and/or hardware. The software program (e.g., machine-readable instructions) may be stored in any number and/or type(s) of tangible computer-readable storage media or non-transient computer-readable storage media. As used herein, “computer-readable storage medium” expressly excludes any medium on which a signal propagates. The software program may be written in a computer-programming language (e.g., C, C++, etc.) compiled to be executable by the processor of the controller. Examples of types of computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a magnetic storage media (e.g., a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, and a magnetic tape), optical recording media (e.g., a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), etc.), an electronic storage media (e.g., an integrated circuit (IC), a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and a flash memory), a quantum storage device, a cache, and/or any other storage media in which information may be stored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently, brief instances, for temporarily buffering, or for caching). The storage medium may also be distributed over network-coupled computer systems (e.g., a network-attached storage device, a server-based storage device, and/or a shared network storage device) so that the program instructions are stored and/or executed in a distributed fashion. 
         [0052]    Embodiments may be disclosed in terms of functional block components and various processing steps. Such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the embodiments may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under, for example, the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. When elements of the embodiments are implemented using software programming or software elements, the embodiments may be implemented using any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, Java, assembler, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented by any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines and/or other programming elements. Furthermore, the embodiments could employ any number of conventional techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like. The word “mechanism” is used broadly herein and is not limited to mechanical or physical embodiments, but can include software routines in conjunction with processors, etc. 
         [0053]    The particular implementations shown and disclosed herein are illustrative examples or embodiments of the invention and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the invention in any way. For the sake of brevity, conventional electronics, control systems, software development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail. Furthermore, the connecting lines, or connectors shown in the various figures presented are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or logical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships, physical connections or logical connections may be present in a practical device. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as” or “for example”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosed embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. Moreover, no item or component is essential to the practice of the invention unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical”. 
         [0054]    As the disclosed embodiments are described with reference to illustrations, various modifications or adaptations of the methods and or specific structures described may become apparent to those skilled in the art. All such modifications, adaptations, or variations that rely upon the teachings of this disclosure, and through which these teachings have advanced the art, are considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, these descriptions and drawings should not be considered in a limiting sense, as it is understood that the invention is in no way limited to only the illustrated embodiments. 
         [0055]    It will be recognized that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” as used herein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art. The use of the terms “a” and “and” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the embodiments (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Finally, the steps of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5