U.S. patent application number 12/859036 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-10 for power tool with light emitting assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to BLACK & DECKER INC.. Invention is credited to Eva J. Dixon, Brian E. Friedman, Eric E. Hatfield, Daniel Krout, Stephen P. Osborne, Corey G. Robertson.
Application Number | 20110058356 12/859036 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44720577 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110058356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Friedman; Brian E. ; et
al. |
March 10, 2011 |
POWER TOOL WITH LIGHT EMITTING ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A power tool including an end effector rotatable with respect to
the housing, a collar non-rotatably coupled to the housing, an
annular printed circuit board (PCB) rotatably fixed with respect to
the housing, and a light element operatively connected to the PCB
and adjacent to the end effector and in a recess of the collar and
located to illuminate a workpiece machined by the power tool.
Inventors: |
Friedman; Brian E.;
(Baltimore, MD) ; Osborne; Stephen P.;
(Pikesville, MD) ; Dixon; Eva J.; (Columbia,
MD) ; Hatfield; Eric E.; (Jacobus, PA) ;
Krout; Daniel; (Abingdon, MD) ; Robertson; Corey
G.; (Felton, PA) |
Assignee: |
BLACK & DECKER INC.
Newark
DE
|
Family ID: |
44720577 |
Appl. No.: |
12/859036 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12379585 |
Feb 25, 2009 |
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12859036 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/119 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B23B 45/003 20130101;
B25B 21/00 20130101; B25B 23/18 20130101; B25F 5/021 20130101; F21V
33/0084 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/119 |
International
Class: |
B25B 23/18 20060101
B25B023/18 |
Claims
1. A power tool comprising: a housing; an end effector rotatable
with respect to the housing; an annular collar defining a channel
therein, said collar being coupled to the housing; an annular
printed circuit board disposed within the channel; an annular
transparent cover disposed within the annular collar, said
transparent cover being rotatably and axially fixed to the printed
circuit board; and a plurality of lighting elements operatively
connected to the printed circuit board and radially disposed about
the end effector to illuminate a workpiece.
2. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the lighting elements are a
plurality of light emitting diodes radially disposed about the
printed circuit board, and wherein a portion of the end effector
extends through a hole defined by the transparent cover and printed
circuit board.
3. The power tool of claim 1, wherein the transparent cover defines
a groove and the printed circuit board is rotationally fixed within
the groove.
4. The power tool of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of
heat meltable features on the transparent cover configured to allow
the printed circuit board to be fixed into the groove in the
transparent cover.
5. The power tool of claim 1, further including a chin portion
defined by the annular collar, the chin portion providing a
protective case for wires operable coupled to the lighting
elements.
6. The power tool of claim 5, further comprising a plug terminating
the wires and wire holding structure on the chin portion for
securing the wires in place.
7. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising collar fasteners
defined on the annular collar configured to couple the annular
collar to the housing.
8. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising alignment grooves
on the printed circuit board and alignment tabs on the transparent
cover, the alignment grooves on the printed circuit board and the
alignment tabs on the transparent cover are dimensioned and located
so that the alignment grooves on the printed circuit board
rotatably fit into and are retained on the alignment tabs on the
transparent cover to keep the printed circuit board and the
transparent cover aligned.
9. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising engaging structure
on the transparent cover configured to bear against corresponding
engaging structure on a transmission housing to lock the
transparent cover from rotating with respect to the transmission
housing.
10. The power tool of claim 1, further comprising a coupling member
covering the printed circuit board so that the lighting element and
the printed circuit board are substantially entrapped by the
coupling member and the transparent cover.
11. The power tool of claim 9, wherein the coupling member is
axially retained by the annular holder and attached to a
transmission housing.
12. The power tool of claim 11, further comprising a stepped
portion on the transmission housing wherein the annular holder
resides in the stepped portion.
13. The power tool of claim 14, wherein the annular collar is
axially locked to the transmission housing at least in part by the
annular holder.
14. A power tool comprising: a rotatable end effector; an annular
collar; an annular printed circuit board; light elements
operatively connected to the annular printed circuit board and
being adjacent to the end effector to illuminate a workpiece
machined by the power tool; and an annular cover having a
transparent region, said annular cover axially supporting the
printed circuit board, wherein a portion of the end effector
extends through a hole defined by the cover and printed circuit
board and wherein the cover defines a groove and the printed
circuit board is located in the groove.
15. The power tool of claim 14, further comprising a heat meltable
flange on the transparent cover configured to allow the printed
circuit board to be non-rotatably fixed into the groove in the
transparent cover and held in place in the transparent cover.
16. A power tool comprising: a motor housing; a handle coupled to
the motor housing; a transmission case coupled to the motor
housing; an end effector extending from the transmission case; a
substantially annular collar; a substantially annular circuit board
having a plurality of light emitting elements; a substantially
annular cover defining a channel and having a transparent portion;
a first coupler disposed between the collar and the transmission
case, said first coupler preventing axial displacement of the
collar with respect to the transmission case; a second coupler
disposed between the circuit board and the cover, said second
coupler preventing axial and rotational displacement of the circuit
board with respect to the cover; a third coupler disposed between
the collar and the cover, said third coupler preventing axial
displacement of the cover with respect to the collar; and wherein
at least a portion of the end effector extends through the collar,
the circuit board, and the cover.
17. The power tool according to claim 16, wherein at least one of
the first coupler, the second coupler, and the third coupler
comprises at least one of a heat stake joint, a bayonet joint, and
an engaged flange.
18. The power tool according to claim 16, wherein the cover defines
an annular groove and the circuit board is disposed therein.
19. The power tool according to claim 16, wherein at least a
portion of the cover is disposed through the collar portion.
20. The power tool according to claim 16, wherein the cover is
transparent.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present application relates generally to handheld power
tools. More particularly, the present application relates to
handheld power tools having a light configured to shine onto a
workpiece machined by the power tool.
BACKGROUND
[0002] This section provides background information related to the
present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art. Power tools
are often used in a variety of conditions ranging from well-lit
indoor work spaces to outside construction sites or other areas
that are not always well-lit. Accordingly, it is desirable to
provide a method or apparatus that permits a power tool to have a
lighting feature that will illuminate the workpiece being machined
or worked on by the power tool. Such a lighting feature will assist
a user to be able to adequately view the workpiece or work area
that is being worked on or machined by the power tool even in
substandard light conditions.
[0003] Because power tools may be used in adverse environmental
conditions, it is desirable to protect such a lighting feature from
the adverse environmental conditions.
SUMMARY
[0004] This section provides a general summary of the disclosure,
and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of
its features. In accordance with one embodiment of the present
teachings, a power tool is provided. The power tool includes a
housing, an end effector rotatable with respect to the housing, a
collar non-rotatable with respect to the housing, a printed circuit
board (PCB) fixed with respect to the housing using a heat stake
process, and a lighting element operatively connected to the PCB.
The lighting element is adjacent to the end effector and in a
recess of a transparent housing and located to illuminate a
workpiece machined by the power tool.
[0005] In accordance with another embodiment of the present
teachings, a power tool is provided. The power tool includes a
rotatable end effector, a non-rotatable collar, and a circular
printed circuit board (PCB). Surface mount lighting elements are
operatively connected to the PCB and are adjacent to the end
effector to illuminate a workpiece machined by the power tool. The
collar has a transparent cover supporting the PCB and wires
configured to provide power to the PCB for illuminating the
lighting elements. The lighting elements are annularly arranged on
the PCB about the end effector. A portion of the end effector
extends through a hole defined by the transparent cover and PCB.
The transparent cover defines a groove and the PCB is coupled in
the groove using a heat staking process.
[0006] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain
embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description
thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There
are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will
be described below and which will form the subject matter of the
claims appended hereto.
[0007] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described
and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is
to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed
herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description
and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0008] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0009] Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the
description provided herein. The description and specific examples
in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and
are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
DRAWINGS
[0010] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes
only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations,
and are not intended to limit the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0011] FIGS. 1a and 1b represent side views of two embodiments of
power tools according to the present teachings;
[0012] FIG. 2 represents a nose-piece subassembly of the power tool
shown in FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of a holder
subassembly associated with the nosepiece shown in FIG. 2;
[0014] FIG. 4 represents a perspective cross-sectional view of the
holder subassembly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 represents a perspective view of a transparent
cover-circuit board subassembly according to the present
teachings;
[0016] FIG. 6 represents a perspective cross-sectional view of the
transparent circuit board subassembly shown in FIG. 5;
[0017] FIG. 7 represents a front perspective view of the
subassembly shown in FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 8 represents a close-up view of the circuit
board/transparent housing interface of the subassembly shown in
FIG. 5;
[0019] FIG. 9 represents a rear perspective view of an alternate
holder subassembly according to the present teachings;
[0020] FIG. 10 represents a perspective cross-sectional view of the
holder subassembly shown in FIG. 9; and
[0021] FIG. 11 represents a front view of the holder subassembly
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.
[0022] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with
reference to the accompanying drawings. According to some
embodiments of the invention, light emitting elements, such as
light emitting diodes (LEDs), are placed in an annular or ring
shape around part of the end effector and are configured to shine
forward to illuminate the tool or accessory held by the end
effector and the workpiece being machined by the tool. The end
effector may be a tool or accessory holder mounted to an output
spindle of the tool as described in U.S. patent application Ser.
no. 12/394426, entitled "Bit Retention Device" filed on Feb. 27,
2009, the contents being incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety. Other examples of end effectors that may be used in
accordance with the invention may be the 7000 Series chuck
manufactured and marketed by the Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing Company
of Clemson, S.C., and quick change chucks similar to that found on
products such as a DC825KA Impact Driver and a DC815KA Impact
Driver manufactured and marketed by the DeWalt Industrial Tool
Company of Baltimore, Md.
[0024] Several different types of lighting elements can be used in
accordance with the invention, such as light bulbs (for example,
xenon bulbs) or other lighting elements. While having specific
advantage, the LED lights discussed herein are an example, and do
not limit embodiments in accordance with the invention to tools
using LEDs. The LED lights, or other lighting elements, and
associated parts are locked to the housing of the tool and do not
rotate when the power tool is operated. It is, however, envisioned
that the light elements can be incorporated into a rotatable member
such as a chuck tightening ring. The lights may be powered by the
same power source that provides power to the power tool's motor. In
the case of cordless power tools, a battery powers the power tool
and in the case of corded tools AC current is provided from a
source voltage through a cord. This AC current may be modified
according to the needs of the lighting device being employed. In
the case of LED lights, a rectifier may be employed to convert AC
current to DC.
[0025] A first embodiment in accordance with the present teachings
is illustrated in FIG. 1a. The power tool 50 has a housing 51 which
can be of a clam shell type or any other suitable type housing. The
power tool 50 may have a transmission housing 56 located at the
front portion of the power tool 50 to encapsulate a portion of an
end effector 53. A handle 57 projects downwardly from the housing
51 and is terminated with a battery. The transmission housing of
the embodiment of FIG. 1a contains a speed reduction transmission
(e.g., a single-stage planetary transmission) and an impact
mechanism that provides an intermittent rotary impact to the end
effector (e.g., a Pott mechanism). The transmission housing of the
embodiment of FIG. 1b contains a speed reduction transmission
(e.g., a multi-stage planetary transmission) and at least a portion
of a torque clutch that disengages when a predetermined torque is
reached.
[0026] The end effector 53 may be configured to hold an accessory
or tool such as a drill bit or a driving type accessory such as a
Philips or standard screwdriver. Other types of tools or
accessories may be held and used in the end effector 53 as can be
appreciated by one skilled in the art. The movement of the end
effector 53 may be controlled by the trigger 55. The trigger 55 may
selectively provide power from the battery to the motor located
within the housing 51. In some embodiments of the invention, the
more the trigger or switch 55 is depressed the more power may be
applied to the motor which may cause the end effector 53 to spin
faster. The battery provides the power to energize the motor and
controllably turn the end effector 53.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 1b and as described in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/379,585, entitled "Light for a Power Tool
and Method of Illuminating" filed on Feb. 25, 2009, the contents
being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, the power
tool 50 may be equipped with a clutch collar. Although not shown,
other embodiments in accordance with the teachings may not have a
rotating clutch collar, but rather a different mechanism, such as a
drill/hammer mode selector, a gear shifter, an on/off switch, a
variable speed control, or other control mechanism. However, this
specification will refer to a clutch collar as an example but does
not limit embodiments in accordance with the invention to tools
having clutch collars. The clutch collar may be rotated to adjust
the torque setting at which the clutch disengages. A numbered scale
may appear on the clutch collar in order to provide a user an
indication of the setting of the clutch collar. In some embodiments
the user may turn the clutch collar to a desired position by hand
An example of a clutch and transmission that may work in accordance
with the invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,691 which is
incorporated by reference in its entirety. Of course, other types
of clutch and transmission mechanisms may be used in accordance
with the invention.
[0028] The power tool 50, for example, can be equipped with a light
emitting holder 52 at an end of the transmission housing 56. As
described below, the holder 52 functions to couple a lighting
circuit to a tool housing 51. A transparent or transparent cover 54
is shown mounted in a recess defined in the holder 52. The holder
52 is mounted to the transmission housing 56 which is, in turn,
supported by the housing 51. A chin shroud 62 is located on the
holder 52 and provides a housing for a portion of the wires 64 (See
FIG. 2). The wires 64 have a connector 66 at a first end 68 are
coupled at a second end 70 to a circuit board 82 disposed within
the holder 52.
[0029] FIG. 2 represents a perspective view of the holder 52
transmission housing 56 subassembly. Shown is the holder 52 having
the associated transparent cover 54 fixably coupled to the housing
transmission housing 56. An associated pig tail wire assembly 71
with associated connector 66 is positioned to allow the coupling to
correspondingly connect on the housing 51. The transmission housing
56 has an associated coupling mechanism 55 which is used to mate
the transmission housing 56 to the two-piece housing 51.
[0030] FIG. 3 represents a cross-sectional view of the holder 52
transmission housing 56 subassembly. The holder 52 can be coupled
to the transmission housing 56 using a plurality of snap features,
or bayonet mechanisms 74 which are configured to interface with a
corresponding L-shaped channel 76 defined within the transmission
housing 56. Disposed within a channel 78 defined by the holder 52
is the transparent cover 54. As described below, the transparent
cover 54 itself defines a transparent cover channel 80 which
annularly supports an associated circuit board 82 having a
plurality of surface mounted light emitting diodes (LEDS) 84. As
described in detail below, the circuit board 82 is held into the
transparent channel 80 using a locking member 86 which is heat
staked to the circuit board 82 to effect a solid non-rotatable
fixation of the circuit board to the transmission housing 56.
[0031] The holder 52 is coupled to a stepped portion 88 of the
transmission housing 56. The stepped portion 88 has a first surface
90 which is generally parallel to the centerline 92 of the tool 50.
Generally perpendicular to this surface is a second surface 94
which acts as an abutment for the holder 52. The first surface 90
of the stepped portion 88 has a protruding flange 96 which
functions as a locking feature to couple the holder 52 into the
stepped portion 88. The flange 96 has a ramped surface 98 which
facilitates the snapping of a corresponding holder 52 locking
feature 100 onto the stepped portion 88. Defined within a second
portion 102 the first surface 90 comprises the locking groove or
channel 76. The locking groove 76 is annularly formed within the
second portion 102 or can be formed of a plurality of radially
disposed intermittent coupling grooves. The locking feature 74
comprises a chamfered flange member 106 having a ramped interfaced
surface 108 and opposed planar bearing surface 110. The planar
bearing surface 110 is configured to interface with a corresponding
planar bearing surface 111 defined either on the flange 96 or
locking groove or channel 76 defined within second portion 102 of
the first surface 90.
[0032] FIG. 4 represents a perspective view of the holder 52 in
subassembly form. The holder 52 contains a mounting member 108
which defines a plurality of radially disposed coupling slots 110.
The slots 110 are configured to accept a corresponding set of
transparent cover snap coupling members 112. The snap coupling
members 112 are configured to bear against an inner surface 114 of
the mounting member 108. Protruding from the inner surface 114 are
three depending coupling flanges which are configured to couple the
holder 52 to the transmission housing 56.
[0033] The holder 52 has a generally cylindrical exterior surface
118. The exterior surface 118 functions to encapsulate the
transparent cover 54, mounting member 108 and circuit board 82. The
mounting member 108 has a depending wire support member 120 having
a center flanged portion 122 which defines a pair of generally
elongated wire bearing slots 124. The slots are configured to
accept the pair of power wires 64 from the wire harness pig tail
assembly 71. The wire support member 120 is generally disposed
within the chin shroud 62 and facilitates the protection of the
light source power wires. The mounting member 108 defines an axial
through bore 126. The through bore 126 has an inner surface 128
with a plurality of associated stand off flanges 130. The stand off
flanges 130 function to apply pressure onto the circuit board 82
when the mounting member is engaged with the holder 52. Further
defined within the inner surface 128 is a notch 132 configured to
accept a wire harness strain relief member 134. The wire harness
strain relief member 134 has a pair of curved internal surfaces
which accept the bent wires 64 in a manner to minimize the overall
axial length of the holder 52.
[0034] FIG. 5 represents a rear perspective view of the transparent
cover 54 circuit board 82 subassembly. As shown, the circuit board
82 is generally circular and is disposed within the transparent
cover channel 80. The circuit board 82 defines a plurality of
radially disposed notches 136 on the exterior radial periphery of
the circuit board. The notches 136 accept corresponding flanges 86
which are defined radially within an inner bearing surface 140 of
the transparent cover channel 80. Defined within the transparent
cover and adjacent to the flanges 138 are corresponding notches 142
which have a depth generally corresponding to the locational
position of the circuit board 82. After the circuit board 82 is
placed within the channel 80, the flanges 138 are melted, thereby
fixably coupling the circuit board 82 within the transparent cover
54 using a heat staking process.
[0035] The couplers or attachment mechanisms between the circuit
board 82 and the transparent cover 54, the holder 52 and the
transmission case 56, or the holder 52 and the transparent cover 54
can take the form of the heat stake joint, the bayonet joint, or
the locking flange within a slot, exemplary embodiments of which
are described above. The couplers or attachment mechanisms are
configured to withstand the extreme cyclic torsional loading
associated with hand held power tools. In this regard, the joints
are configured to prevent vibrational noise or damage to these
components, especially to the PCB.
[0036] FIGS. 6 and 7 represent cross-sectional perspective views of
the subassembly shown in FIG. 5. Shown is the transparent cover
channel 80, a coupling flange 138, relief member 134 and snap
member 112. The channel 80 defines an inner ledge 142 which axially
supports the circuit board 82 in a position which axially locates
the LED 84 at the proper distance from the transparent cover 54.
The distance allows for the proper focusing of the light from the
LED on to a workpiece.
[0037] FIG. 8 represents a front view of the transparent
cover/circuit board subassembly shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Shown is
the positional position of the LEDs 84 with respect to the various
snap and coupling features. While surface mounted LEDs 84 are shown
and have their own particular advantages, it should be envisioned
that non-surface mount LEDs could be used. Shown adjacent to the
LEDs 84 is a plurality of surface mounted resistors 151 which are
electrically coupled to the LEDs 84.
[0038] FIGS. 9-11 represent an alternate holder 52 having an
alternate circuit board to transparent cover coupling mechanism. In
this regard, the holder 52 contains a transparent cover 150 having
an inner tubular member 152. The inner tubular member 152 defines a
generally L-shaped coupling channel 154. The L-shaped coupling
channel 154 defines a protruding locking feature 156 which engages
a corresponding locking bayonet feature on the transmission
housing.
[0039] Further defined on the inner tubular member 152 is a
plurality of coupling notches 158. The notches 158 have a depth
corresponding to the preferred locational position of the circuit
board 82 within the transparent cover channel 80. Adjacent to the
coupling notches 158 are corresponding coupling flanges 160 which
are configured to be positioned within a corresponding set of
notches 162 defined within an inner surface 164 of the circuit
board 72. As described above, the coupling flanges 160 are
configured to be melted in a heat staking process to rotationally
and longitudinally fix the circuit board 82 within the channel 80.
As best seen in FIG. 11, the holder can define discrete apertures
to allow light to be emitted from the nose section of the tool onto
the workpiece. The holder 52 has a elastomeric overmolding to
prevent damage to the workpiece and to the tool if the tool
inadvertently strikes the workpiece.
[0040] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been
provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not
intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual
elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not
limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if
not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in
many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure
from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be
included within the scope of the disclosure.
[0041] Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure
will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are
skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as
examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a
thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details
need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in
many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit
the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments,
well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known
technologies are not described in detail.
[0042] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the"
may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises,"
"comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive and
therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps,
operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the
presence or addition of one or more other features, integers,
steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The
method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to
be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the
particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically
identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood
that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0043] When an element or layer is referred to as being "on,"
"engaged to," "connected to," or "coupled to" another element or
layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the
other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be
present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being
"directly on," "directly engaged to," "directly connected to," or
"directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no
intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to
describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in
a like fashion (e.g., "between" versus "directly between,"
"adjacent" versus "directly adjacent," etc.). As used herein, the
term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of
the associated listed items.
[0044] Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used
herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers
and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or
sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be
only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or
section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as
"first," "second," and other numerical terms when used herein do
not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the
context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section
discussed below could be termed a second element, component,
region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of
the example embodiments.
[0045] Spatially relative terms, such as "inner," "outer,"
"beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be
used herein for ease of description to describe one element or
feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as
illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be
intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use
or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the
figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over,
elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or
features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or
features. Thus, the example term "below" can encompass both an
orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise
oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the
spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted
accordingly.
* * * * *