Patent ID: 12220698

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Details of example embodiments are included in the following detailed description and drawings. Advantages and features of the disclosure, and a method of achieving the same will be more clearly understood from the following example embodiments described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwise described, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative size and depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. Any references to singular may include plural unless expressly stated otherwise. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, an expression such as “comprising” or “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. Also, the terms, such as ‘unit’ or ‘module’, etc., should be understood as a unit that performs at least one function or operation and that may be embodied as hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Expressions such as “at least one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list. For example, the expression, “at least one of a, b, and c,” should be understood as including only a, only b, only c, both a and b, both a and c, both b and c, or all of a, b, and c.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of a microfluidic chip, and an apparatus and a method for detecting biomolecules will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a diagram illustrating a microfluidic chip according to an example embodiment.FIG.2is a side view of the microfluidic chip ofFIG.1.

Referring toFIG.1, a microfluidic chip100includes structures such as a first storage110, a plurality of second storages120, a well array130having a plurality of wells, and channels111,121, and131. In the microfluidic chip100, the first storage110, the second storages120, and the well array130are arranged in an order, and an absorption pad140may be further included which is disposed at a distal end of the microfluidic chip100and serves to absorb a sample solution so that the sample solution may be moved by capillarity.

The microfluidic chip100may include a substrate10, on which the microfluidic structures are disposed. As illustrated inFIG.2, the substrate10may have a two-layer structure in which an upper plate11and a lower plate12are coupled to each other. The first storage110, the second storages120, the well array130, and the absorption pad140may be disposed on the upper plate11or the lower plate12as illustrate inFIG.2, and the channels111,121, and131, through which a fluid passes, may be formed between the upper plate11and the lower plate12. The substrate10may include an inorganic material, such as glass, silicon, ceramic, graphite, etc., or a material such as acrylic material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate, polystylene, polypropylene, and the like. The microfluidic structures may be formed on the substrate10by etching, milling, drilling, and the like.

In addition, the microfluidic chip100may further include a structure (not shown), such as an active and/or passive driving device, a capillary or an electro-wetting device, etc., that is used for the flow of a micro-fluid. The active and/or passive driving device may include a passive vacuum void pump, a syringe pump, a vacuum pump, a pneumatic pump, and the like but is not limited thereto.

A sample is loaded and received in the first storage110, and may be dispersed in the plurality of second storages120through the first channel111. As illustrated inFIG.1, the first channel111may have one inlet formed therein, which is connected to an outlet provided in the first storage110, and may have a plurality of outlets respectively connected to the plurality of second storages120. However, the first storage110is not limited thereto, and may have outlets formed at a plurality of portions of the first storage110, so that a plurality of first channels111may be connected thereto.

The sample may include respiratory secretions, or bio-fluids including at least one of blood, urine, perspiration, tears, saliva, etc., or a swab sample of an upper respiratory tract, or a solution of the bio-fluid or the swab sample dispersed in other medium. In this case, the other medium may include water, saline solution, alcohol, phosphate buffered saline solution, vital transport media, etc., but is not limited thereto. A volume of the sample may be in a range of 1 μL to 1000 μL, and may be, for example, 20 μL.

The sample loaded in the first storage110may be pretreated before being dispersed and received in the second storages120. For example, the sample may be pretreated by heating, chemical treatment, treatment with magnetic beads, solid phase extraction, ultrasonication, or the like. A material or a structure for pretreatment may be formed inside or outside of the first storage110.

Further, the first storage110may include a field effect transistor (FET), a silicon photonic structure, a two-dimensional (2D) micro/nano (or micro and/or nano) material, a 2D micro/nano structure, and the like. In addition, the first storage110may include a material and/or structure, having optical or electrical heating properties, for controlling temperature of the sample. For example, the first storage110may include an optical heating material and/or structure, that reacts to a light source such as a light emitted diode (LED), laser, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), etc., or may include an electrical heating element such as a Peltier element and the like.

One or more second storages120may be provided for each target material. A number of the second storages120may be determined according to a number of target materials, a size of the microfluidic chip100, etc., and may be, for example, in a range of 1 to 20, or may be, for example, 10. The target material may include a duplex of one or more of ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), peptide nucleic acid (PNA), and locked nucleic acid (LNA), oligopeptide, protein, toxin, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The second storages120may include at least one reactant for each target material, and the respective second storages120may include reactants for different target materials. As illustrated inFIG.2, a reactant RS for a target material may be freeze-dried to be fixed to the second storages120. The reactant for each target material may include reverse transcriptase, polymerase, ligase, peroxidase, primer, probe, etc., but is not limited thereto. The primer may include oligonucleotide, for example, target specific single strand oligonucleotide. Further, the probe may include oligonucleotide, for example, target specific single strand oligonucleotide, a fluorescent material, quencher, and the like. The probe may exhibit a fluorescence signal by interacting with a specific target material in a solution, in which different types of materials are dissolved. Such characteristic signal may be tracked, detected, and processed for a predetermined period of time by an optical unit and/or a processor of an apparatus for detecting biomolecules, to be used in detecting the biomolecules.

The sample, loaded and/or pretreated in the first storage110may be dispersed and received in the second storages120. In this case, structures, such as an active and/or passive driving device, a capillary or an electro-wetting device, etc., may be used for the flow of a microfluidic sample. When the sample is introduced into the second storages120, a reactant for a target material, freeze-dried and fixed to the second storages120, is dissolved in the sample.

The well array130may include a plurality of wells having a micro/nano structure, and a sample solution, in which reactants of target materials are dissolved, is introduced from the respective second storages120into the wells corresponding thereto. A number of the well array130is determined according to a number of the target materials, and may be, for example, in a range of 1 to 20 and may be greater than or equal to a number of the second storages120. A size of a well included in each well array130may be, for example, 1 nL or less. Further, a number of the wells included in each well array130may be in a range of ten thousand to one million and may be, for example, twenty thousand.

A bottom and a wall of the respective wells may have different properties, e.g., different wettability. Further, a structure (not shown) for removing gaseous bubbles, e.g., a bubble trap, a bubble removing material and/or chamber, and/or a gas permeable material, may be disposed inside each well array130or at an inlet of the well array130. The respective wells of the well array130may include a field effect transistor (FET), a silicon photonic structure, a 2D micro/nano material, and the like. In addition, each well of the well array130may include an optical heating material and/or structure, that reacts to an external light source such as a light emitted diode (LED), laser, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), etc., so as to have optical heating properties; or each well of the well array130may include an electrical heating element such as a Peltier element and the like so as to have electrical heating properties.

The sample solution, in which reactants of target materials are dissolved, is introduced from the respective second storages120into each corresponding well array130through the second channel121. In this case, in order to fill the wells of each well array130with a sample fluid or to fix the sample fluid thereto, a sliding device (or a slide), a centrifuge device (or a centrifuge), or a stamping device (or a stamper) and the like may be used which is disposed in the microfluidic chip100.

The sample solution, introduced into each well array130, may be subject to enzyme reaction for a predetermined period of time in order to detect biomolecules. In this case, reverse transcription using reverse transcriptase may be performed on an RNA sample in each well array130. The enzyme reaction may include, for example, a nucleic acid amplification reaction including at least one of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and isothermal amplification, or oxidation-reduction reaction, hydrolytic reaction, and the like. While the enzyme reaction is performed in each well array130, an optical signal is measured by an optical unit and/or a processor of the apparatus for detecting biomolecules, and the biomolecules may be detected based on the measured optical signal. The optical signal may include fluorescence, phosphorescence, absorbance, surface plasmon resonance, and the like. As described above, the microfluidic chip100may be used to detect the presence of a target DNA template, quantitative information, and the like during a replication process of polymerase.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the absorption pad140is disposed at a rear end of the well array130and connected to the well array130through the third channel131, and may move and drain the sample solution. As described above, by providing the absorption pad140, a velocity of inflow or transfer of the sample may be easily controlled. However, the absorption pad140is not limited thereto, and by varying the position, size, and type of the absorption pad140, a flow velocity and a flow amount of the sample solution passing through the wells may be controlled. For example, during the enzyme reaction, the sample may be moved at a slow speed, and during washing, the sample may be moved at a fast speed, such that reaction sensitivity may be improved. While the absorption pad140is illustratively described as an example of a structure configured to control a velocity of an inflow of the sample, the structure is not limited to the absorption pad, and may additionally or alternatively include, for example, a vacuum pump, an active pump, and a capillary pump.

FIG.3is a diagram illustrating a microfluidic chip according to another example embodiment.

Referring toFIG.3, a microfluidic chip300according to an example embodiment may include the first channel111connecting the first storage110and the second storage120, and a filter310formed on an outlet side of the first storage110.

The filter310may block biomolecules in the sample loaded and pre-treated in the first storage110, and may pass only a fluid. The filter310may be a single-layer or a multi-layer filter having micro holes and formed as a membrane, and according to a size of the holes, the filter310may block the biomolecules of a desired size. The filter310may include, for example, silicon, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyethersulfone, polycarbonate, glass fiber, polypropylene, cellulose, mixed cellulose esters, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), nylon, phosphocellulose, diethylaminoethyl cellulose (DEAE), and the like, but is not limited thereto. The holes may have various shapes, such as a circular shape, a square shape, a slit shape, an irregular shape by glass fiber, and the like.

In addition, the microfluidic chip300may further include a mixer321that mixes a sample solution, in which reactants of target materials are dissolved, in the second storages120. As illustrated inFIG.3, the mixer321may be disposed on the outlet side of the second storages120, which are connected to the well array130through the second channel. However, the mixer321is not limited thereto, and may be disposed inside the second storages120.

Further, the microfluidic chip300may further include a first valve322disposed at the second channel that connects the second storages120and the well array130, and configured to control a fluid flow from the second storages120to the well array130, and/or a second valve331disposed at the third channel connecting the well array130and the absorption pad140, and configured to control a fluid flow from the well array130to the absorption pad140. As illustrated inFIG.3, the first valve322may be disposed at the outlet of the second storages120, or at the outlet of the mixer321when the mixer321is provided. The first valve322and the second valve331may be various types of microvalves that open and close a microfluidic channel. For example, the microvalves may include an active microvalve, such as a pneumatic and/or thermopneumatic actuated valve, an electrostatically actuated valve, a piezoelectrically actuated valve, an electromagnetically actuated valve; or a passive microvalve that opens and closes by using a fluid flow or a difference in interfacial tension without artificial external operation, but the microvalves are not particularly limited thereto.

FIG.4is a diagram illustrating a microfluidic chip according to yet another example embodiment.FIG.5is a side view of the microfluidic chip ofFIG.4.

Referring toFIGS.4and5, a microfluidic chip400according to an example embodiment may include a storage410in which a sample is loaded, and if desired, may be pre-treated; a well array430in which an enzyme reaction of a sample solution is performed; and a micro fluid mover440that moves a micro fluid. Further, a mixer420may be disposed in a channel that connects the storage410and the well array430. In addition, a filter450may be disposed in a channel between the storage410and the mixer420. As described above, the microfluidic chip400may include the substrate10having a two-layer structure in which the upper plate11and the lower plate12are coupled to each other, and the respective microfluidic structures may be disposed on the upper plate11or the lower plate12. The substrate10may include an air-permeable polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and the like.

The storage410may perform the same or similar function as the first storage110described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted. In an example embodiment, the storage410may include a reactant of a target material. For example, the reactant of the target material may be freeze-dried and fixed. As the sample is loaded in the storage410, the freeze-dried reactant may be dissolved in the sample. As described above, a pretreatment process of the loaded sample may be performed in the storage410. A sample solution, in which the reactant of the target material is dissolved, in the storage410may be mixed by the mixer420and is injected into the well array430. The filter450may be disposed before or behind the mixer420on the substrate10, to filter biomolecules.

The well array430may have a nanostructure, and may include a material and/or a structure having electrical heating properties or optical heating properties. Various enzyme reactions may occur in the well array430, and biomolecules may be detected by measuring an optical signal by using an external optical unit during the enzyme reactions. The well array430may perform the same or similar function as the well array130described above, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The microfluidic mover440may be, for example, a vacuum battery for moving the sample loaded in the storage410to the well array430by a vacuum method, but is not limited thereto.

FIGS.6A and6Bare diagrams illustrating various examples of an arrangement of a microfluidic chip according to example embodiments.

Referring toFIG.6A, the microfluidic chip may be divided into a first area610and a second area620. The first area610may include the first storage110in which a sample is loaded and/or pre-treated, and the second area620may include structures120,130, and140for dispersing and processing the sample introduced from the first storage110. Referring toFIG.6A, one second area620of the microfluidic chip according to an example embodiment may be connected to one outlet formed in the first storage110. Referring toFIG.6B, a plurality of outlets are formed in the first area610to be connected to a plurality of second areas621,622,623,624,625, and626. A number of second areas may vary depending on a number of target materials or a size of the microfluidic chip.

FIGS.7to11are block diagrams illustrating an apparatus for detecting biomolecules, according to example embodiments.

Referring toFIG.7, an apparatus700for detecting biomolecules includes a microfluidic chip710, an optical unit720, and a processor730. The microfluidic chip710is described in detail above with reference toFIGS.1to6B, and thus will be briefly described below.

A sample is loaded in a first storage of the microfluidic chip710, and the loaded sample may be dispersed in one or more second storages by using a manual and/or automatic driving device, a capillary or an electro-wetting device, and the like. The sample may include respiratory secretions, or bio-fluids including at least one of blood, urine, perspiration, tears, saliva, etc., or a swab sample of an upper respiratory tract, or a solution of the bio-fluid or the swab sample dispersed in other medium, such as water, saline solution, alcohol, phosphate buffered saline solution, vital transport media, and the like. A volume of the sample may be in a range of 1 μL to 1000 μL, and may be, for example, 20 μL.

The respective second storages may include reactants for each target material, and when the sample is introduced from the first storage, the reactants for each target material are dissolved therein. In this case, the reactants for each target material may be freeze-dried. The target material may include a duplex of one or more of ribonucleic acid (RNA), deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), peptide nucleic acid (PNA), and locked nucleic acid (LNA), oligopeptide, protein, toxin, etc., and may include reverse transcriptase, polymerase, ligase, peroxidase, primer, probe, etc., but is not limited thereto.

When a sample solution, in which the reactants of the target materials are dissolved, is introduced into a micro/nano well array, an enzyme reaction of the sample solution is performed in the micro/nano well array. The enzyme reaction may include a nucleic acid amplification reaction including at least one of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and isothermal amplification, or oxidation-reduction reaction, hydrolytic reaction, and the like.

The optical unit720may measure an optical signal while the enzyme reaction is performed in each well of the micro/nano well array. The optical signal may include fluorescence, phosphorescence, absorbance, surface plasmon resonance, and the like. The optical unit720may include a light source for emitting light onto a sample solution of the micro/nano well, and a detector for detecting an optical signal reflected from the sample solution of the micro/nano well. The light source may include an LED, laser, Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL), and the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the detector may include a photomultiplier tube, a photo detector, a photomultiplier tube array, a photo detector array, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and the like, but is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the optical unit720may further include a filter for passing a specific wavelength, a mirror for directing light, emanating from the micro/nano well, toward the detector, and a lens for collimating light emanating from the micro/nano well, and the like.

The processor730may be electrically connected to the optical unit720, and may control driving of the light source of the optical unit720. In addition, the processor730may receive the optical signal from the detector and may analyze the optical signal, and may detect biomolecules based on the analysis. For example, the processor730may perform quantitative analysis of biomolecules based on Poisson distribution using a result of digital nucleic acid amplification detected by the detector.

Referring toFIG.8, an apparatus800for detecting biomolecules according to an example embodiment may further include a pretreatment unit810, in addition to the configuration of the apparatus700for detecting biomolecules ofFIG.7.

The pretreatment unit810may perform pretreatment of the sample loaded in the first storage, in which the pretreatment includes, for example, heating, chemical treatment, treatment with magnetic beads, solid phase extraction, ultrasonication, or the like. To this end, the pretreatment unit810may include various materials or structures for pretreatment, such as magnetic beads provided inside and/or outside of the first storage, a chemical treatment area, a solid phase extractor, an ultrasound device (e.g., ultrasonic source), an optical and/or electrical heating device (or heater), etc., and may control such materials or structures. At least some of the functions of the pretreatment unit810may be performed by the processor730.

Referring toFIG.9, an apparatus900for detecting biomolecules according to an example embodiment may further include a temperature controller910, in addition to the configuration of the apparatuses700or800for detecting biomolecules ofFIG.7orFIG.8.

The temperature controller910may control temperature of the sample received in the first storage, the second storage, and/or the micro/nano well array. For example, when the sample is loaded in the first storage, the temperature controller910may control temperature of the sample to be maintained at an isothermal temperature of 95° C. or higher. In addition, when the sample is dispersed in the second storage, the temperature controller910may control temperature of the sample to be maintained at an isothermal temperature of 30° C. to 60° C.

The temperature controller910may include a material or a structure for controlling temperature inside or outside of the first storage, the second storage, and/or the micro/nano well array. For example, an electrical heater for electrical heating of the sample may be formed inside the first storage, the second storage, and/or the micro/nano well array. The electrical heater may include, for example, a heating element and/or a Peltier element, and the like. Alternatively, the temperature controller910may include an optical heater. The optical heater may include one or more light sources disposed outside of the microfluidic chip710and emitting light onto the microfluidic chip710, and a heating element disposed inside the first storage, the second storage, and/or the micro/nano well of the microfluidic chip710and reacting to light of the light sources, and the like.

In addition, the temperature controller910may include a temperature sensor disposed inside or outside of the microfluidic chip710and measuring temperature of the sample in the first storage, the second storage, and/or the micro/nano well. In this case, a thermocouple having a bimetal junction generating temperature-dependent electromotive force (EMF), a resistive thermometer including materials having electrical resistance proportional to temperature, thermistors, an integrated circuit (IC) temperature sensor, a quartz thermometer, and the like may be used as the temperature sensor.

Referring toFIG.10, an apparatus1000for detecting biomolecules according to an example embodiment may further include an output interface1010, a storage1020, and a communication interface1030, in addition to the configuration of the apparatuses700,800, or900ofFIG.7,FIG.8, orFIG.9.

The output interface1010may output, for example, information on a biomolecule detection process, a biomolecule detection result, and/or information on interaction with a user during the biomolecule detection process, and the like. The output interface1010may provide the information to a user by visual, audio, and/or tactile method and the like using a visual output module (e.g. display), an audio output module (e.g., speaker), a haptic module, and the like.

The storage1020may store, for example, a variety of information for detecting biomolecules and/or the biomolecule detection result, and the like. The storage1020may include at least one storage medium including, for example, a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card type memory (e.g., a secure digital (SD) memory, an extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk, and the like, but is not limited thereto.

The communication interface1030may communicate with an external device. For example, the communication interface1030may transmit data generated by the apparatus1000for detecting biomolecules, e.g., the biomolecule detection result and the like, to the external device, and may receive data related to detecting biomolecules from the external device. The external device may include medical equipment, a printer to print out results, or a display device. In addition, the external device may include a digital television (TV), a desktop computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a laptop computer, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA), Portable Multimedia Player (PMP), a navigation device, an MP3 player, a digital camera, a wearable device, etc., but is not limited thereto.

The communication interface1030may communicate with the external device by using, for example, Bluetooth communication, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, Near Field Communication (NFC), WLAN communication, Zigbee communication, Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication, Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) communication, Ant+ communication, Wi-Fi communication, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) communication, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), and fifth generation (5G) communications, and the like. However, this is merely an example and is not intended to be limiting.

FIG.11is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting biomolecules according to an example embodiment.

The method of detecting biomolecules ofFIG.11may be performed by any one of the apparatuses700,800,900, and1000for detecting biomolecules according to example embodiments ofFIGS.7to10, which are described in detail above, and thus will be briefly described below in order to minimize redundancy.

First, a sample is loaded in the first storage of the microfluidic chip in1110, and if desired, pretreatment may be performed on the loaded sample by heating, chemical treatment, treatment with magnetic beads, solid phase extraction, ultrasonication, and the like.

Then, the sample in the first storage is dispersed and received in the second storage in1120. The sample loaded in the first storage may be dispersed in a plurality of second storages by using a manual and/or automatic driving device, a capillary or an electro-wetting device, and the like. In this process, microparticles may be filtered by a filter disposed on a channel connecting the first storage and the second storage.

Subsequently, when the sample is injected into the second storages, reactants for each target material included in the second storages are dissolved in the sample in1130. In this case, the respective second storages may include reactants for different target materials, and the reactants for the target materials may be freeze-dried and fixed to the second storages.

Next, sample solutions, in which the reactants for the target materials are dissolved, are injected into a micro/nano well array from the second storages in1140. In this case, the dissolved sample solutions may be mixed well by using a mixer disposed at a channel that connects the second storages and the well array or disposed in the second storages.

Then, an enzyme reaction of the sample solutions is performed in the micro/nano well array in1150. In this case, if the same solution is an RNA sample, reverse transcription using reverse transcriptase may be performed on the RNA sample. The enzyme reaction may include, for example, a nucleic acid amplification reaction including at least one of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and isothermal amplification, or oxidation-reduction reaction, hydrolytic reaction, and the like. In this case, temperature of the sample in the micro/nano well may be controlled by using a material or a device for optical heating or electrical heating, and the like.

Subsequently, the apparatus for detecting biomolecules may measure an optical signal during an enzyme reaction of the sample solution in the micro/nano well in1160, and may detect biomolecules by using the measured optical signal in1170. In this case, by emitting light of a predetermined wavelength onto the micro/nano well for a predetermined period of time by using the light source of the optical unit, the apparatus for detecting biomolecules may detect an optical signal, such as fluorescence, phosphorescence, absorbance, surface plasmon resonance, and the like, and may obtain a quantitative result on biomolecules by analyzing the detected optical signal based on Poisson distribution.

The disclosure may be realized as a computer-readable code written on a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium may be any type of recording device in which data is stored in a computer-readable manner.

Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a ROM, a RAM, a compact disc (CD)-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disc, an optical data storage, and a carrier wave (e.g., data transmission through the Internet). The computer-readable recording medium may be distributed over a plurality of computer systems connected to a network so that a computer-readable code is written thereto and executed therefrom in a decentralized manner. Functional programs, codes, and code segments for implementing the disclosure be easily deduced by computer programmers of ordinary skill in the art, to which the disclosure pertains.

At least one of the components, elements, modules or units described herein may be embodied as various numbers of hardware, software and/or firmware structures that execute respective functions described above, according to an example embodiment. For example, at least one of these components, elements or units may use a direct circuit structure, such as a memory, a processor, a logic circuit, a look-up table, etc. that may execute the respective functions through controls of one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components, elements or units may be embodied by a module, a program, or a part of code, which contains one or more executable instructions for performing specified logic functions, and executed by one or more microprocessors or other control apparatuses. Also, at least one of these components, elements or units may further include or implemented by a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) that performs the respective functions, a microprocessor, or the like. Two or more of these components, elements or units may be combined into one single component, element or unit which performs all operations or functions of the combined two or more components, elements of units. Also, at least part of functions of at least one of these components, elements or units may be performed by another of these components, element or units. Further, although a bus is not illustrated in the block diagrams, communication between the components, elements or units may be performed through the bus. Functional aspects of the above example embodiments may be implemented in algorithms that execute on one or more processors. Furthermore, the components, elements or units represented by a block or processing operations may employ any number of related art techniques for electronics configuration, signal processing and/or control, data processing and the like.

While example embodiments of the disclosure have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that variations in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the attached claims.