U.S. patent application number 13/596380 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for nanotube assisted self-cleaning material.
This patent application is currently assigned to Empire Technology Development LLC. Invention is credited to Edward A. Ehrlacher, Charles A. Eldering.
Application Number | 20120319004 13/596380 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43068744 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120319004 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eldering; Charles A. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2012 |
Nanotube Assisted Self-Cleaning Material
Abstract
A self-cleaning material is generally described that may include
a substrate having a first surface. A self-cleaning layer of
aligned nanotube structures may be formed on the first surface of
the substrate, where absorption of light by the nanotube structures
may cause a change in state of the self-cleaning material based on
an angle of incidence of the light and an orientation vector
corresponding to the layer of aligned nanotube structures.
Inventors: |
Eldering; Charles A.;
(Furlong, PA) ; Ehrlacher; Edward A.;
(Philadelphia, PA) |
Assignee: |
Empire Technology Development
LLC
|
Family ID: |
43068744 |
Appl. No.: |
13/596380 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12465717 |
May 14, 2009 |
8273425 |
|
|
13596380 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
250/453.11 ;
423/610; 427/180; 427/209; 427/402; 501/32; 502/100; 977/890;
977/902 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B01J 21/063 20130101;
Y10T 428/26 20150115; Y10T 428/30 20150115; Y10T 428/131 20150115;
B01J 35/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
250/453.11 ;
423/610; 502/100; 501/32; 427/180; 427/209; 427/402; 977/890;
977/902 |
International
Class: |
C01G 23/047 20060101
C01G023/047; C03C 17/23 20060101 C03C017/23; A61L 2/08 20060101
A61L002/08; B01J 37/02 20060101 B01J037/02; B05D 5/00 20060101
B05D005/00 |
Claims
1. A method of making a self-cleaning material, the method
comprising: providing a substrate having a first surface; and
forming a first self-cleaning layer of longitudinally aligned
nanotube structures on the first surface of the substrate, wherein
longitudinal axes of the nanotube structures are parallel to each
other and form a first non-zero acute orientation angle with
respect to an axis normal to the first surface.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming the first
self-cleaning layer includes growing the nanotube structures on the
substrate.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming the first
self-cleaning layer includes depositing the nanotube structures on
the substrate.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first self-cleaning layer
changes state responsive to an exposure to light based at least in
part on an angle of incidence of the light and the first
orientation angle.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first self-cleaning layer is
further arranged such that absorption of light by the self-cleaning
layer of aligned nanotube structures increases as the angle of
incidence of the light approaches the first orientation angle.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning layer of
aligned nanotube structures is photocatalytic, hydrophobic, and/or
hydrophilic in response to exposure to the light.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanotube structures are a
different material than the substrate.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanotube structures at least
partially comprise titanium dioxide and the substrate is a
glass.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: forming a second
self-cleaning layer of longitudinally aligned nanotube structures
on a second surface of the substrate, wherein second longitudinal
axes of the nanotube structures of the second self-cleaning layer
are parallel to each other and form a second non-zero acute
orientation angle with respect to an axis normal to the second
surface.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the nanotube structures of the
first self-cleaning layer and the nanotube structures of the second
self-cleaning layer are different materials.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second self-cleaning layer
exhibits a different self-cleaning property than the first
self-cleaning layer.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first orientation angle is
selected based on the first self-cleaning layer being utilized in
an uncontrolled environment and the second orientation angle is
selected based on the second self-cleaning layer being utilized in
a controlled environment.
13. A method of making a self-cleaning material, the method
comprising: providing a substrate having a first surface;
depositing a seed layer on the first surface of the substrate; and
forming a self-cleaning layer of longitudinally aligned nanotube
structures on the seed layer, wherein longitudinal axes of the
nanotube structures are parallel to each other and form a non-zero
acute orientation angle with respect to an axis normal to the first
surface.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the forming the first
self-cleaning layer includes growing the nanotube structures on the
substrate.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the seed layer is a different
material than the substrate.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the self-cleaning layer changes
state responsive to an exposure to light based at least in part on
an angle of incidence of the light and the orientation angle.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the self-cleaning layer is
further arranged such that absorption of light by the self-cleaning
layer of the aligned nanotube structures increases as the angle of
incidence of the light approaches the orientation angle.
18. A method of using a self-cleaning material, the method
comprising: attaching the self cleaning material to a support
structure, the self cleaning material comprising: a substrate
having a first surface, and a self-cleaning layer of longitudinally
aligned nanotube structures on the first surface of the substrate,
wherein longitudinal axes of the nanotube structures are parallel
to each other and form a non-zero acute orientation angle with
respect to an axis normal to the first surface; and illuminating
the self-cleaning material with light, the illuminating causing the
self-cleaning layer to change state responsive to exposure to the
light based at least in part on an angle of incidence of the light
and the orientation angle.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the support structure is
included in an uncontrolled environment, and the orientation angle
of the nanotube structures is selected based upon environmental
parameters.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein the support structure is
included in a controlled environment, and the orientation angle is
selected to match the angle of incidence of the light from of a
fixture illuminating the self-cleaning material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/465,717, filed May 14, 2009, entitled
Nanotube Assisted Self-Cleaning Material, the entire disclosure of
which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/465,711, filed May 14, 2009, entitled
Diffraction Grading Assisted Self-Cleaning Material.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The present disclosure relates to self-cleaning materials,
and more specifically to materials utilizing self-cleaning layers
of aligned nanotubes.
[0004] Self-cleaning materials are effective at keeping products
and surfaces clean for long periods of time. Self-cleaning
materials are being increasingly utilized for a number of
applications including building exteriors, bathrooms, windows, and
coatings for various surfaces.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The following detailed description will be better understood
when read in conjunction with the following description and
appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which there is shown one or more of the multiple
embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be understood,
however, that the various embodiments of the present disclosure are
not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown
in the drawings.
[0006] In the Drawings:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material with a seed layer;
[0009] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating an
example self-cleaning material showing an example of light incident
thereon;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material with an orientation vector for nearly normal
incident exposure;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material with an orientation vector for glancing
incident exposure;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material where multiple surfaces of the substrate
include a self-cleaning layer; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material where multiple surfaces of the substrate
include a self-cleaning layer with different orientation vectors;
all arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the
present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] In the following detailed description, reference is made to
the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the
drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components,
unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments
described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not
meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of
the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood
that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described
herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged,
substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different
configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make
part of this disclosure.
[0015] Briefly stated, the multiple embodiments of the present
disclosure include a self-cleaning material including a substrate
having a first surface. A self-cleaning layer of aligned nanotube
structures may be formed on the first surface of the substrate,
where absorption of light by the nanotube structures may cause a
change in state of the self-cleaning material based on an
orientation vector corresponding to the layer of aligned nanotube
structures.
[0016] A self-cleaning material is disclosed that includes a layer
of nanotubes on a substrate. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view
illustrating an example self-cleaning material 10, arranged in
accordance with at least some embodiments of the present
disclosure. The self-cleaning material 10 includes a substrate 100
and a self-cleaning layer 110 of nanotubes 105. The nanotubes 105
may be deposited or grown on to a surface of the substrate 100 as
discussed in greater detail below. The nanotubes 105 may be formed
using a material exhibiting some type of self-cleaning properties
when exposed to an appropriate wavelength of light, i.e., the
nanotubes 105 may generally exhibit, for example, photocatalytic,
photo-induced hydrophilic, or photo-induced hydrophobic properties
due to the absorption of photons corresponding to the appropriate
wavelength of the light incident on the self-cleaning layer 110.
For example, self-cleaning properties of some self-cleaning
materials, such as titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2), are enhanced or
activated in response to light in the ultraviolet region of the
spectrum, while other self-cleaning materials, such as nickel doped
indium tantalate (In.sub.(1-x)Ni.sub.xTaO.sub.4), may be responsive
to light in the visible region of the spectrum. The activation or
enhancement of the photocatalytic, photo-induced hydrophilic, or
photo-induced hydrophobic self-cleaning properties of the
self-cleaning layer 110 may also be referred to as a change of
state of the self-cleaning layer 110. The change of state may also
include a switching from one of the self-cleaning properties to a
different self-cleaning property. The exposure to, and resulting
absorption of, the light may also cause the nanotubes 105 to
exhibit more than one of these properties. For example, the
nanotubes 105 may become both photocatalytic and hydrophilic, as
will be understood in light of the present disclosure. In some
embodiments, the nanotubes 105 may be oriented with respect to the
surface of the substrate 100 to enhance light absorption by the
nanotubes 105 and thus may enhance or activate the self-cleaning
properties. In some embodiments, the nanotubes 105 may be
substantially parallel with respect to each other. The orientation
of the nanotubes 105 with respect to the surface of the substrate
100 may be described using an orientation vector (not shown in FIG.
1), described in more detail below.
[0017] In the present disclosure, the self-cleaning material 10 may
include the structure of the substrate 100 and the self-cleaning
layer 110 of the nanotubes 105 in combination. While the substrate
100 alone may not necessarily exhibit cleaning properties, for
convenience, the particular substrates 100 referred to herein as
self-cleaning are understood to be in combination with a
self-cleaning layer 110, such that the combined structure exhibits
self-cleaning properties. For example, a glass substrate with a
layer of TiO.sub.2 nanotubes may be referred to herein simply as
self-cleaning glass. In some embodiments, the substrate 100 in the
absence of the self-cleaning layer 110 of nanotubes 105 may, under
some conditions, exhibit self-cleaning properties (i.e., the
substrate may itself be a self-cleaning material), with the
self-cleaning layer 110 of nanotubes 105 being used to enhance or
change the self-cleaning properties of the substrate 100.
[0018] The substrate 100 may be any base material for which
self-cleaning properties are desired. Some examples of substrates
include glass, ceramics, metals, composites, or other building
materials. The nanotubes 105 may be any material exhibiting
self-cleaning properties generally known in the art, such as
titanium dioxide (also know as TiO.sub.2 and titania) or nickel
doped indium tantalate (In.sub.(1-x)Ni.sub.xTaO.sub.4). Methods of
nanotube formation, such as chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and
pre-cursor templating may be utilized, although a detailed
discussion thereof is omitted here for convenience only and should
not be considered limiting. Furthermore, techniques for depositing
aligned layers of nanotubes on a surface, such as Langmuir-Blodgett
deposition, self-assembly processes, and sputtering in an
electromagnetic field, is also omitted here for convenience only
and should not be considered limiting. In some embodiments, the
nanotubes 105 may generally be single walled, aligned structures,
although the self-cleaning materials 10 described herein are not
limited to such arrangements. The self-cleaning layer 110 of
nanotubes 105 may be transparent with respect to the substrate 100,
and may conform to contours of the substrate 100 such that the
self-cleaning layer 110 of nanotubes 105 may largely be
indistinguishable with respect to the substrate 100. In addition,
the substrate 100 may include a self-cleaning layer of nanotubes on
one or more surfaces of the substrate.
[0019] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the
self-cleaning materials 10 may be used in a controlled or
uncontrolled environment. A controlled environment may generally
refer to a space where environmental parameters can be controlled
and stabilized (e.g., indoors or an otherwise enclosed area), and
may generally be free from exposure to weather or other volatile
conditions. Environmental parameters may include but are not
limited to temperature, humidity, and illumination. In contrast, an
uncontrolled environment may generally refer to a space where the
environmental parameters are not readily controlled (e.g.,
outdoors), and surfaces may be exposed to weather conditions. In
some embodiments, one surface of the self-cleaning material 10 may
be exposed to a controlled environment, and another surface of the
self-cleaning material 10 may be exposed to an uncontrolled
environment. One example is a self-cleaning window (not shown),
where one surface of the window may be an exterior surface and the
other surface of the window may be an interior surface.
[0020] Incident light, or simply light, may refer to the
electromagnetic radiation in the visible, ultraviolet, and infrared
regions of the electromagnetic spectrum impinging on a surface of
the self-cleaning material 10. The exposure of a surface to light
may also referred to herein as illuminating or illumination of the
surface in question. Illumination characteristics for a surface may
include one or more of angle of incidence of the incident light,
intensity of the incident light, wavelength distribution of the
incident light, and/or the intensity distribution as a function of
the wavelength.
[0021] The angle of incidence of the incident light may be measured
from an axis perpendicular to (i.e., normal to) the surface of the
self-cleaning material. An angle of incidence of zero (i.e., normal
incidence) may refer to the illumination condition where the
incident light impinges on the surface of the self-cleaning
material 10 substantially perpendicular to the surface. Glancing
incidence may refer to illumination of the self-cleaning material
where the angle of incidence approaches 90 degrees (i.e., nearly
parallel to the surface of the self-cleaning material). Since light
impinging on the self-cleaning material may not be exactly
collimated or collinear, the angle of incidence may refer to the
angle with the highest total intensity of light illuminating the
surface. For example, illumination of a surface by direct sunlight
may tend to have a higher total intensity than sunlight scattered
onto the surface from other objects; thus, the angle of incidence
may be measured using the incident light from the sun.
[0022] In view of the present disclosure, it will be appreciate
that illumination (also referred to as exposure) of the surface of
the self-cleaning material 10 may be dependent on the environment.
In an uncontrolled environment, such as outdoors, the illumination
characteristics may be variable--dependent on time of day, season,
proximate natural and man-made objects, and latitude--as the
electromagnetic radiation from the sun reaching the surface of the
earth may be dependent on one or more of these variables.
Conversely, in a controlled environment, such as an interior space
with fixed lighting, the illumination characteristics may generally
be dependent on the type and positioning of the lighting fixtures,
with little variability other than switching on/off the lighting,
using a light dimmer, or changing the type or wattage of the light
bulbs, etc.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material 12 that includes a seed layer 120, arranged
in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present
disclosure. In some embodiments, a seed layer 120 is deposited on
the substrate 100 before the nanotubes 105 are grown. The seed
layer 120 is a thin film that acts a template for growth of the
nanotubes 105 that form the self-cleaning layer 110. Growth of
layers 110 of aligned nanotube structures 105 on a substrate 100
are well know in the art, and detailed discussion thereof is
omitted here for convenience only and should not be considered
limiting.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an example
self-cleaning material 10 showing an example of light incident
thereon, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of
the present disclosure. Similar to the example of FIG. 1, the
self-cleaning material 10 may include a substrate 100 and a layer
of nanotubes 105. The nanotubes 105 may be disposed on a surface
320 of the substrate 100 at an orientation angle 20 with respect to
the surface 320 (for convenience only, a single nanotube 105 is
shown in FIG. 3). An orientation vector 310 may be defined along an
axis (not shown) substantially parallel to the sidewalls 107 of the
aligned nanotubes 105. The orientation angle 20 may be the angle
formed by the axis 330 that is normal to the surface 320 of the
substrate 100 and the orientation vector 310. Light 130 incident on
the nanotubes 105 having an angle of incidence 30 (measured with
respect to the axis 330) may be absorbed by the nanotubes 105 to
activate the self-cleaning properties of the self-cleaning layer
110 (see FIG. 1). In some embodiments, the self-cleaning properties
of the self-cleaning layer 110 may be enhanced as the angle of
incidence 30 approaches the orientation angle 20 (i.e., as the
incident light 130 becomes more nearly parallel to the orientation
vector 310). In some embodiments, if the angle of incidence 20 is
not matched to the orientation angle 30, the absorption of the
incident light 130 by the nanotubes 105 may be insufficient to
activate the photo-induced self-cleaning properties of the
self-cleaning material 10.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material 10 having an orientation vector 310 selected
for nearly normal incident exposure of the light 130, arranged in
accordance with at least some embodiments of the present
disclosure. The orientation vector 310, as described above with
respect to FIG. 3, may correspond to the orientation of the
nanotubes 105 with respect to the surface 320 of the substrate 10.
For an illumination condition where the incident light 130 may be
perpendicular (i.e., normal incidence) or nearly perpendicular to
the surface 320 (i.e., low angle of incidence), the self-cleaning
properties of the self-cleaning layer 110 may be enhanced when the
orientation vector 310 is perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to
the surface 320 (i.e., small orientation angle) and the orientation
vector 310 is nearly parallel to incident light 130. For example, a
self-cleaning ceramic tile may be used in a horizontal orientation,
such as on a floor or other horizontal surface. For light sources
such as the sun outdoors or ceiling lighting fixtures indoors, the
angle of incidence of the light illuminating the surface of the
tile may nearly be normal to the surface. Thus, a self-cleaning
material 10 having an orientation vector 310 for the nanotubes 105
with a small orientation angle 20 (see FIG. 3) may provide
efficient self-cleaning properties.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material 10 having an orientation vector 310 selected
for glancing incident exposure of the light 130, arranged in
accordance with at least some embodiments of the present
disclosure. The orientation vector 310, as described above with
respect to FIG. 3, corresponds to the orientation of the nanotubes
105 with respect to the surface 320 of the substrate 10. For an
illumination condition where the incident light 130 may be
substantially parallel to the surface 320 (i.e., glancing incidence
or high angle of incidence), the self-cleaning properties of the
self-cleaning layer 110 may be enhanced when the orientation vector
310 is nearly parallel to the surface 320 (i.e., large orientation
angle 20), and the orientation vector 310 is nearly parallel to
incident light 130. For example, for a self-cleaning ceramic tile
used in a vertical orientation such as mounted on a wall under the
same illumination conditions as previously described with respect
to the example of FIG. 4, the angle of incidence 30 (see FIG. 3) of
the light illuminating the surface may be high, even approaching
glancing incidence. A self-cleaning material 10 with an orientation
vector 310 for the nanotubes 105 having a large orientation angle
20 may thus provide the efficient self-cleaning properties for the
self-cleaning ceramic tile in the vertical orientation.
[0027] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material 10 where multiple surfaces 520, 530 of the
substrate 100 include self-cleaning layers 110, 510, respectively,
in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present
disclosure. Self-cleaning layer 110 may include nanotubes 105
formed on a first surface 520 of the substrate 100. Self-cleaning
layer 510 may include nanotubes 505 formed on a second surface 530
of the substrate 100. The depiction of the surfaces 520, 530 as
parallel or on opposite sides of the substrate 100 in FIG. 6 should
not be considered limiting. For example, for a cubic substrate (not
shown), two adjacent surfaces of the cube may have a self-cleaning
layer (e.g., a block of building material on the corner has two
adjacent exterior sides). Likewise, some embodiments may include a
self-cleaning material 10 where more than two surfaces of the
substrate may have a self-cleaning layer.
[0028] Still referring to FIG. 6, the nanotubes 105, 505 of the
self-cleaning layers 110, 510 may be the same material, or
alternately the nanotubes 105 of the self-cleaning layer 110 may be
a different material than the nanotubes 505 of the self-cleaning
layer 510. In some embodiments, the nanotubes 105, 505 may be
selected based on the type of environment or the self-cleaning
properties desired for each surface 520, 530 of the self-cleaning
material 10. For example, one surface of the self-cleaning material
10 may be exposed to a controlled environment, while another
surface of the self-cleaning material may be exposed to an
uncontrolled environment. In the controlled environment,
photocatalytic properties used to disinfect the surfaces of the
controlled environment may be important, while in the uncontrolled
environment, hydrophilic properties may be more important to keep
the surface from soiling.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example
self-cleaning material 10 where multiple surfaces 630, 640 of the
substrate 100 include a self-cleaning layer 110, 610 having
different orientation vectors 615, 620, respectively, in accordance
with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.
Self-cleaning layer 110 includes nanotubes 105 formed on a first
surface 630 of the substrate 100 having a first orientation vector
615. Self-cleaning layer 610 includes nanotubes 605 formed on a
second surface 640 of the substrate 100 having a second orientation
vector 620. As discussed above with respect to FIG. 6, the
depiction of the surfaces 630, 640 as parallel or on opposite sides
of the substrate 100 in FIG. 7 should not be considered limiting.
Likewise, some embodiments may include a self-cleaning material 10
where more than two surfaces of the substrate may have a
self-cleaning layer.
[0030] Still referring to FIG. 7, the nanotubes 105, 605 of the
self-cleaning layers 110, 610 may be the same material, or
alternately the nanotubes 105 of self-cleaning layer 110 may be a
different material than the nanotubes 605 of self-cleaning layer
610. The orientation vectors 615, 620 may be selected based on the
expected or most probable illumination conditions of their
respective surfaces 630, 640. Thus, in the embodiments of FIG. 7,
for example, the orientation angle 20 (see FIG. 3) associated with
the first orientation vector 615 may be noticeably larger than the
orientation angle 20 associated with the second orientation vector
620. In FIG. 7, the second surface 640 of the self-cleaning
material 10 may most typically be illuminated with light 130 of
normal incidence; thus, an orientation vector 620 with a low
orientation angle 20 is used. In contrast, for the first surface
630 of the self-cleaning material 10, the most typical illumination
may be glancing incidence, and an orientation vector 615 with a
high orientation angle may be used. For example, for a
self-cleaning material used in a vertical orientation (e.g.,
self-cleaning glass used in a window), the direct illumination of
the exterior surface of the window by sunlight may be considered as
glancing illumination (a very high angle of incidence), while the
illumination of the interior side of the window by interior light
fixtures may have much lower angles of incidence.
[0031] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates
different components contained within, or connected with, different
other components. It is to be understood that such depicted
architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other
architectures can be implemented which achieve the same
functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components
to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such
that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two
components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality
can be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired
functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or
intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated
can also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably
coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and
any two components capable of being so associated can also be
viewed as being "operably couplable", to each other to achieve the
desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable
include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or
physically interacting components and/or wirelessly interactable
and/or wirelessly interacting components and/or logically
interacting and/or logically interactable components.
[0032] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or
singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate
from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the
plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The
various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth
herein for sake of clarity.
[0033] It will be understood by those within the art that, in
general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims
(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as
"open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as
"including but not limited to," the term "having" should be
interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be
interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be
further understood by those within the art that if a specific
number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an
intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence
of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an
aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain
usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more"
to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases
should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim
recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any
particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to
inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same
claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least
one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or
"an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one
or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles
used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a
specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly
recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such
recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the
recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations,"
without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations,
or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where
a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is
used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one
having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a
system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be
limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B
together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C
together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the
art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting
two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims,
or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities
of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms.
For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the
possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0034] While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed
herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those
skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed
herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be
limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the
following claims.
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