Patent ID: 12231849

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides hearing assistance devices and methods of generating a resonance within hearing assistance devices that use moving coil drivers, e.g., electro-dynamic coil drivers. As small moving coil drivers are typically inefficient within the voice band of frequencies, e.g., above 1 kHz, the hearing assistance devices described herein utilize the resonance of a mass within the hearing assistance device and a compliance of air within the housing of the hearing assistance device or within portions of the acoustic driver housing to aid in amplification of select frequencies within the voice band of human speech, e.g., between 2.5 kHz and 6 kHz. By using the assistance of the resonance created, the moving coil driver utilized does not need to operate as efficiently within the range of resonance frequencies.

The term “hearing assistance device” as used in this disclosure, in addition to including its ordinary meaning or its meaning known to those skilled in the art, is intended to mean a device that fits around, on, in, or near an ear (including open-ear audio devices worn on the head or shoulders of a user) and that radiates acoustic energy into or towards the ear. A hearing assistance device includes an acoustic driver to transduce audio signals to acoustic energy. The acoustic driver can be housed in an earcup, earbud, or other portion of the hearing assistance device that sits within the user's ear canal during operation. While some of the figures and descriptions following can show a single hearing assistance device, a pair of hearing assistance devices can be provided, each having a respective portion that sits within the user's ear canal. Additionally, each hearing assistance device can be connected mechanically to another hearing assistance device or headphone, for example by a headband and/or by leads that conduct audio signals to an acoustic driver in the hearing assistance device or headphone. Furthermore, as will be described below, hearing assistance devices can include components for wirelessly receiving audio signals. A hearing assistance device can also include components of an active noise reduction (ANR) system. Hearing assistance devices can also include other functionality such as a microphone so that they can function as a headset. WhileFIG.1shows and example of a behind-the-ear form factor, in other examples the hearing assistance device can be an on-ear, around-ear, in-ear, or near-ear headset.

The following description should be read in view ofFIGS.1-6.FIG.1is a front perspective view of a hearing assistance device100according to the present disclosure. Hearing assistance device100includes a behind-the-ear portion102and a receiver-in-canal portion104. During operation of hearing assistance device100, behind-the-ear portion102(hereinafter referred to as “BTE portion102”) is configured to secure to or mount behind a user's ear, while the receiver-in-canal portion104(hereinafter “RIC portion104”) is configured to sit within a user's ear canal. BTE portion102is communicably coupled or in electrical communication with RIC portion104via one or more wires106. As will be discussed below, audio signals and/or electrical signals processed or utilized by BTE portion102or RIC portion104are transported via the one or more wires106in the generation of audible acoustic energy proximate the user's ear canal. As illustrated, RIC portion104includes a deformable tip T configured to engage with at least a portion of the user's ear or ear canal. Although illustrated as an open deformable tip, e.g., a deformable tip with one or more holes, it should be appreciated that tip T can be a closed tip, e.g., where tip T includes no holes and the surface of tip T is configured to engaged with the user's ear canal so as to form an acoustic seal against and with the user's ear canal. In some examples, tip T is arranged on nozzle138of second housing126of MC portion104(discussed below). Throughout the present disclosure, reference is made to a hearing assistance device100; however it should be appreciated that the principles discussed herein, i.e., tuning of the air volume within an acoustic housing, acoustic mass, or acoustic stiffness as it relates to a electrodynamic driver, can be implemented in other wearable audio devices, e.g., earbuds, headsets, headphones, sport headphones, audio eyeglass form factor devices, whether they are wired or wireless.

FIG.2illustrates schematic view of hearing assistance device100according to the present disclosure.FIG.3illustrates a schematic view of the internal components of BTE portion102according to the present disclosure. As illustrated schematically inFIGS.2and3, BTE portion102includes a first housing108configured to at least partially enclose first circuitry110. First circuitry110includes a processor112and a memory114configured to execute and store, respectively, a plurality of non-transitory computer-readable instructions116, to perform the various functions of BTE portion102as will be described herein. First circuitry110also includes a communications module118configured to send and/or receive data, e.g., data used to generate the acoustic energy discussed below. In some examples, communications module118is capable of sending and receiving wired or wireless data. To that end, communications module118can include at least one radio or antenna, e.g., radio120, capable of sending and receiving wireless data. In some examples, communications module118can include, in addition to at least one radio (e.g., radio120), some form of automated gain control (AGC), a modulator and/or demodulator, and potentially a discrete processor for bit-processing that are electrically connected to processor112and memory114to aid in sending and/or receiving wired or wireless data. In some examples, as illustrated inFIGS.2and3, first circuitry100also includes a battery122or other power source and an external microphone124. Battery122is configured to store electrical energy sufficient to provided power to BTE portion102as well as RIC portion104via one or more wires106. Although illustrated and described as a simple battery, it should be appreciated that battery122can include any storable power source, e.g., a lithium ion battery, capacitor, or supercapacitor. External microphone124is positioned within first housing108and configured to receive acoustic energy from outside of first housing108of BTE portion102coming from the environment surrounding the user. External microphone124can also be used in the active noise reduction or active noise cancellation functionality of hearing assistance device100, as will be discussed below.

FIG.2also illustrates a schematic view of RIC portion104and the internal components of RIC portion104. As illustrated, RIC portion104includes a second housing126configured to at least partially encompass a plurality of components arranged to receive data from BTE portion102via one or more wires106and generate audible acoustic energy within the user's ear canal. Second housing126includes a front portion128and a rear portion130. Front portion128is intended to include portions of second housing126configured to contact and engage with the user's ear canal during operation of hearing assistance device100, e.g., tip T of nozzle138(discussed below). Front portion128also includes a front cavity132arranged within second housing126and front portion128of RIC portion104. As discussed below, front cavity132defines a first acoustic volume133(also shown inFIGS.4-5) and an acoustic passage139(also shown inFIGS.4-5). Additionally, as will be discussed below, first acoustic volume133has a first compliance C1. Rear portion130is intended to include the internal and external portions of second housing126diametrically opposed to front portion128, and includes a rear cavity134arranged within second housing126and rear portion130. As will be described below, rear cavity134defines a second acoustic volume135(also shown inFIGS.4-5). As will be described below, second acoustic volume135has a second compliance C2Between front portion128and rear portion130, second housing126of RIC portion104includes an acoustic driver136. Acoustic driver136is intended to be an electrodynamic driver, e.g., an electrodynamic coil driver. As such, acoustic driver136is electrically connected to first circuitry110of BTE portion102via the one or more wires106and is arranged to receive electrical signals from first circuitry110and generate audible acoustic energy within second housing126.

FIG.4illustrates a schematic view of RIC portion104in isolation for clarity. As shown, RIC portion104also includes a nozzle138, a feedback microphone140, and a feedforward microphone142. For example, within the front cavity132of front portion128, second housing126of MC portion104includes a nozzle138integrally formed with the front portion128and configured to contour to and engage with the inside surface of a user's ear canal. Nozzle138defines an acoustic passage139between the first acoustic volume133and the user's ear canal (not shown). Additionally, feedback microphone140is positioned within nozzle138and/or front cavity132of front portion128, while feedforward microphone142is positioned outside of second housing126. In some non-limiting examples feed forward microphone142is positioned on the rear portion130. Accordingly, feedback microphone140and feedforward microphone142are communicably coupled to first circuitry110of BTE portion102via the one or more wires106, and are configured to obtain acoustic signals representative of the acoustic energy produced within the user's ear canal and the environment outside the user's ear, respectively. Using the signals obtained from these microphones, hearing assistance device100can utilize one or more active noise reduction (ANR) or active noise cancellation (ANC) algorithms to filter one or more unwanted frequencies outside of or inside of the user's ear canal using acoustic driver136.

As set forth above, in some examples, acoustic driver136is an electrodynamic coil driver. Although generally inexpensive, electrodynamic coil drivers are typically inefficient at amplifying acoustic signals at the upper end of the range of frequencies associated with human speech, e.g., the upper end of the voice band. For example, the majority of the frequencies related to human speech, i.e., the voice band, can include frequencies between 100 Hz and 8 kHz. In some examples, the frequencies related to human speech include frequencies between 100 Hz and 6 kHz. When a user loses their hearing, they typically start to lose sensitivity to frequencies at the upper end of that range, e.g., above 1 kHz, or more specifically between 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz and in some examples between 2.5 kHz and 6 kHz. Moving coil drivers, such as acoustic driver136, typically require excessive energy to amplify acoustic signals within the 2.5 kHz to 8 kHz range or within the 2.5 kHz to 6 kHz range. The present disclosure is intended to utilize tunable resonant properties of the acoustic driver136and/or the second housing126to aid the acoustic driver136in generating amplified acoustic energy within certain frequency ranges. By tuning the acoustic driver136and/or the second housing126to resonate at certain frequencies within that range, the electrodynamic driver can use the resonance generated to increase the hearing assistance device's efficiency. In other words, the hearing assistance device100becomes more efficient at amplifying sound within the range of 2.5 kHz and to 6 kHz. To tune the resonance frequency of the acoustic driver136and/or the second housing126, the acoustic driver136and/or the second housing126can include one or more acoustic ports144that operate to change the volume or acoustic stiffness of air within the acoustic driver136and/or within second housing126.

FIG.5illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of an example acoustic driver136according to the present disclosure. As shown, acoustic driver136includes a driver housing146, one or more magnets148, a coil150, and a plate152that, in response to electrical signals from BTE portion102, move diaphragm154(mechanically coupled to the coil150via a bobbin155) to generate audible acoustic energy. Additionally, as shown, acoustic driver136has a front side156and a rear side158. While front side156includes diaphragm154, rear side158includes an acoustic port144. AlthoughFIG.5illustrates a single acoustic port144, it should be appreciated that acoustic driver136can include additional ports144(not shown) where one or more of those additional ports144can be blocked by an acoustically blocking material. For example, acoustic driver136could include two, three, four, five, or more acoustic ports144where all but one port is blocked by a material that reduces or eliminates that ability for acoustic energy generated within the acoustic driver136to exit driver housing146. Furthermore, as shown inFIG.5, diaphragm154includes a first radiating surface160A and a second radiating surface160B. First radiating surface160A defines the side of diaphragm154that faces and is acoustically coupled to first cavity132and first acoustic volume133. Second radiating surface160B defines the surface of the diaphragm154that is diametrically opposed to first radiating surface160A and faces the internal volume162of acoustic driver136. Internal volume162refers to the volume of air contained within acoustic driver136during operation and internal volume162has a third compliance C3. Additionally, it should be noted that other structures used in the operation of acoustic driver136have been omitted from the figures for clarity, e.g., adhesive elements that secure the bobbin155to diaphragm154.

As used herein, and in addition to its ordinary meaning to those of skill in the art, the term “acoustic mass” is used to describe a volumetric portion of air positioned within a portion of second housing126and/or within elongated portion164of acoustic driver136that may oscillate in response to changes in acoustic energy.

Additionally, as discussed above, first acoustic volume133, second acoustic volume135and the internal volume162of the second housing126and driver housing146have a respective compliance, i.e., first compliance C1, second compliance C2, and third compliance C3, respectively. As used herein, and in addition to its meaning to those skilled in the art, the term “compliance” is intended to refer to the acoustic property of a volume of air to exhibit a spring-like property on an associated mass, e.g., an acoustic mass. The resonance properties described below utilize both a mass, e.g., an acoustic mass166, and a spring, e.g., the compliance of a given volume of air, to generate resonance within the structures provided. Thus, “compliance,” as used herein is intended to describe the ability for a confined volume of air to exhibit spring-like influence over acoustic masses within the hearing assistance device100.

Referring back toFIG.5,FIG.5illustrates one schematic example of a cross-sectional profile of acoustic driver136(hereinafter referred to as the “back-resonance example”). In the back-resonance example, acoustic driver136has been configured or tuned to resonate at one or more resonance frequencies between 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz, e.g., between 2.5 kHz and 6 kHz or between 3.5 kHz and 4.5 kHz. As shown inFIG.5, a single acoustic port144is provided, such that only a single acoustic port144is open to rear cavity134of second housing126. As shown, acoustic port144can include an elongated portion164configured to alter the interaction between the internal volume162of driver housing142and diaphragm154to define a resonance frequency of the acoustic driver136. In the example shown, the single acoustic port144includes an elongated portion164having a length, width, and/or shape that is tunable or changeable to alter the volume of air within the elongated portion, i.e., acoustic mass166. As resonance requires both a mass and a spring, in the back-resonance example, the mass of the diaphragm154acts as the mass while the compliance C3of air within the driver housing146operates as the spring.

During operation, the acoustic mass166is configured to oscillate, e.g., move into and out of the opening of acoustic port144(shown with a black doubled-sided arrow inFIG.5). It should be appreciated that, at low frequencies, e.g., at frequencies less than or equal to 1 kHz, acoustic mass166is formed within elongated portion164such that acoustic mass166oscillates freely into and out of port144, i.e., with low impedance. In other words, at low frequencies acoustic port144appears acoustically open. However, at or within a frequency range of interest, e.g., at or within a range of frequencies within the voiceband of human speech (discussed above), the acoustic mass166will have high impedance and will resist oscillation into and out of port144. This heightened impedance at high frequencies, e.g., at frequencies greater than 1 kHz, between 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz, or between 2.5 kHz and 6 kHz, causes the acoustic port144to appear closed or sealed to acoustic energy, i.e., is acoustically closed. By “acoustically closing” the only port, i.e., acoustic port144, the mass of the diaphragm154and the compliance C3of the internal volume162of the driver housing146will resonate at frequencies at or within these key ranges of interest. Thus, as the internal volume162of the driver housing146remains the same, by changing, tuning, or otherwise adjusting the shape of the elongated portion164, the acoustic mass166is changed, tuned, or otherwise adjusted. Therefore, changing the acoustic mass166changes the frequencies that the acoustic mass166will have high impedance and thus resist or impede transfer of acoustic energy from within the driver housing146. In other words, the elongated portion164is configured to define an acoustic mass166that will have high impedance, at or within certain frequencies ranges, that causes a resonance between the diaphragm154and the internal volume162of the driver housing146at those frequencies. Thus, the present disclosure provides a tunable acoustic mass166created by the length, width, and shape of elongated portion164that assists the electrodynamic acoustic driver136in producing acoustic energy in frequency ranges above 1 kHz, while not interfering with the generation of acoustic energy in frequency ranges equal to or below 1 kHz.

FIG.6illustrates another example configuration of hearing assistance device100(hereinafter referred to as the “front-resonance example”). In the front-resonance example, an acoustic mass166is formed by the volume of air within nozzle138. To form a resonance in the front-resonance example, a compliance C1of the volume of air within first cavity132, i.e., first acoustic volume133, acts as a spring, while the acoustic mass166formed within the nozzle138, or more specifically, within the acoustic passage139within nozzle138, acts as the mass. In this example configuration, the acoustic mass166is configured to oscillate as described above, i.e., into and out of the opening at the end of nozzle138, in response to acoustic energy generated by acoustic driver136. Similarly to the back-resonance example, the interior volume of the nozzle138, i.e., the acoustic passage139has a length, width, and shape that is tunable or configurable to create a desired acoustic mass. For example, as shown, the length, width, and/or shape of acoustic passage139can be altered such that at low frequencies, e.g., at frequencies less than or equal to 1 kHz, the acoustic mass166formed within acoustic passage139can freely move and/or oscillate into and out of the opening at the end of nozzle138. However, at high frequencies, e.g., at frequencies greater than 1 kHz, between 2.5 kHz and 8 kHz, or between 2.5 kHz and 6 kHz, acoustic mass166and the compliance C1of the air within first acoustic volume133are configured to resonate and aid the electrodynamic acoustic driver136in generating acoustic energy with those frequency ranges. In other words, the mass of the air within acoustic passage139, i.e., acoustic mass166, and the compliance of the air within the first acoustic volume133of the first cavity132, together form a Helmholtz resonator such that air in the acoustic passage139resonates with air in the first acoustic volume133in the high frequency ranges described above, thereby increasing the acoustic output into the user's ear canal in those frequency ranges.

It should be appreciated that the techniques for tuning the resonance properties of the acoustic passage139, and/or the acoustic driver136, can be combined in any conceivable combination that would allow for a specific resonance frequency or frequencies within the ranges of human speech discussed above, e.g., at least the range of 2.5 kHz to 6 kHz. For example, hearing assistance device100can employ the structural configurations set forth in both the back-resonance example and the front-resonance example. Specifically, hearing assistance device100can include a driver housing146with a single acoustic port144formed with an acoustic mass166and configured to have high impedance at high frequencies, and also include a separate acoustic mass166formed within the acoustic passage139of nozzle138, where both acoustic masses are configured or tuned to boost the efficiency of the electrodynamic acoustic driver136in the creation of acoustic energy within the voiceband of human speech through the resonances described above.

FIG.7illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary set of a method of generating a resonance within a hearing assistance device according to the present disclosure, i.e., method200. Method200includes, for example: forming an acoustic port144on or in a driver housing146of an acoustic driver136, the acoustic driver136disposed within the hearing assistance device100and comprising a diaphragm154(step202); and driving the acoustic driver136such that: i) at low frequencies the acoustic port144is acoustically open (step204); and ii) at high frequencies the acoustic port144is acoustically sealed such that a compliance C3of a volume air within the driver housing146resonates with a mass of the diaphragm154at the high frequencies (step206).

FIG.8illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary set of a method of generating a resonance within a hearing assistance device according to the present disclosure, i.e., method300. Method300includes, for example: forming a housing126to support an acoustic driver136such that the housing126and the acoustic driver136together define a first acoustic volume133and a second acoustic volume, e.g., internal volume162(step302); forming the acoustic driver136such that a first radiating surface160A of a diaphragm154of acoustic driver136radiates acoustic energy into the first acoustic volume133and such that a second radiating surface160B of the diaphragm154of the acoustic driver136radiates acoustic energy into a second acoustic volume162(step304); forming the housing126such that housing126defines a nozzle138and wherein the first acoustic volume133is acoustically coupled to an acoustic passage139in the nozzle139such that the acoustic driver136is acoustically coupled to a user's ear canal when the hearing assistance device is worn (step306); and forming the housing126such that housing126is configured such that air in the acoustic passage139resonates with air in the first acoustic volume133in a high frequency range, thereby increasing acoustic output into the user's ear canal in the high frequency range (step308).

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of” “only one of” or “exactly one of.”

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.

The above-described examples of the described subject matter can be implemented in any of numerous ways. For example, some aspects may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof. When any aspect is implemented at least in part in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices/computers.

The present disclosure may be implemented as a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present disclosure may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some examples, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to examples of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions.

The computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram or blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various examples of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims and other claims to which the applicant may be entitled.

While various examples have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific examples described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing examples are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, examples may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Examples of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.