U.S. patent application number 14/573322 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for pin-configurable internal bus termination system.
The applicant listed for this patent is The Boeing Company. Invention is credited to Todd B. Brouwer, Timothy E. Jackson, Sean M. Ramey, Edgar L. von Trotha, III.
Application Number | 20170286350 14/573322 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55027250 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170286350 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Brouwer; Todd B. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2017 |
PIN-CONFIGURABLE INTERNAL BUS TERMINATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A pin-configurable bus termination system may includes a bus
connector attached to an end of a bus. The bus connector may be
configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input
connector of a node. The node may include a bus termination
resistance. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a
second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination
resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination
resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination
configuration and a second termination configuration. The first
termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first
and second bus output pins arid the configurable first and second
termination resistor pins to electrically connect the bus
termination resistance for terminating the bus. The second
termination configuration may include an open electrical circuit
between the first and second bus output pins and the configurable
first and second termination resistor pins.
Inventors: |
Brouwer; Todd B.; (Duvall,
WA) ; Ramey; Sean M.; (Lynnwood, WA) ;
Jackson; Timothy E.; (Mukilteo, WA) ; von Trotha,
III; Edgar L.; (Snohomish, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
The Boeing Company |
Chicago |
IL |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20160179737 A1 |
June 23, 2016 |
|
|
Family ID: |
55027250 |
Appl. No.: |
14/573322 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 13/4221 20130101;
G06F 13/4068 20130101; H04L 12/40078 20130101; G06F 13/4086
20130101; G06F 13/4022 20130101; H04L 2012/4028 20130101; H04L
12/40013 20130101; H04L 2012/40215 20130101; H04L 12/40189
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/42 20060101
G06F013/42; H04L 12/40 20060101 H04L012/40; G06F 13/40 20060101
G06F013/40 |
Claims
1. A pin-configurable bus termination system, comprising: a bus
connector attached to an end of a bus, the bus connector being
configured for electrically connecting the bus to an input
connector of a node, the node comprising an internal bus
termination resistance that is optionally connected based on a
selected configuration of the bus connector, the bus connector
comprising: a first bus output pin; a second bus output pin; and
configurable first and second termination resistor pins, the
configurable first and second termination resistor pins being
configurable to provide a first termination configuration that
electrically interconnects the first and second bus output pins and
interconnects the configurable first and second termination
resistor pins, to electrically connect the internal bus termination
resistance for terminating the bus, and the configurable first and
second termination resistor pins being configurable to provide a
second termination configuration comprising an open electrical
circuit between the first and second bus output pins and an open
electrical circuit between the configurable first and second
termination resistor pins.
2. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the input connector of the node comprises: a first termination
resistor pin electrically connected to a first bus input conductor
of the node by a first termination resistor; and a second
termination resistor pin electrically connected to a second bus
input conductor of the node by a second termination resistor,
wherein the first termination resistor pin is configured to
electrically connect to the configurable first termination resistor
pin and the second termination resistor pin is configured to
electrically connect to the configurable second termination
resistor pin when the bus connector is electrically connected to
the input connector of the system, the first termination resistor
and the second termination resistor combine in series to provide
the internal bus termination resistance when the configurable first
and second termination resistor pins are configured to provide the
first termination configuration.
3. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 2, wherein
the first termination resistor and the second termination resistor
each comprise a resistance of approximately 60 ohms.
4. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the node comprises: a first bus input conductor; a first
termination resistor; a second bus input conductor; a second
termination resistor; and the input connector, the input connector
comprising: a first bus input pin electrically connected to the
first bus input conductor; a first termination resistor input pin,
wherein the first termination resistor is electrically connected
between the first termination resistor input pin and the first bus
input conductor; a second bus input pin electrically connected to
the second bus input conductor; and a second termination resistor
input pin, wherein the second termination resistor is electrically
connected between the second termination resistor input pin and the
second bus input conductor, the first termination resistor and the
second termination resistor combine in series to provide the
internal bus termination resistance when the configurable first and
second termination resistor pins are configured to provide the
first termination configuration.
5. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the bus comprises a controller area network (CAN) bus and the first
bus output pin is electrically connected to a CAN high wire of the
CAN bus and the second bus output pin is electrically connected to
a CAN low wire of the CAN bus.
6. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the bus comprises a CAN bus configured for use on an airplane.
7. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the node comprises a line replaceable unit (LRU) onboard an
airplane.
8. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the configurable first and second termination resistor pins are
configured in the first configuration in response to the node being
positioned at an end of the bus.
9. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 1, wherein
the bus comprises a CAN bus and the node comprises an LRU, wherein
the configurable first and second termination resistor pins are
configured in the first configuration in response to the LRU being
positioned at an end of the CAN bus and the configurable first and
second termination resistor pins are configured in the second
configuration in response to the LRU not being at an end of the CAN
bus.
10. A pin-configurable bus termination system, comprising: a bus
connector attached to an end of a bus; a node comprising: a first
bus input conductor; a first termination resistor; a second bus
input conductor; a second termination resistor; an input connector,
the input connector being configured to receive the bus connector
for connecting the bus to the node, the input connector comprising:
a first bus input pin electrically connected to the first bus input
conductor; a first termination resistor input pin, wherein the
first termination resistor is electrically connected between the
first termination resistor input pin and the first bus input
conductor; a second bus input pin electrically connected to the
second bus input conductor; a second termination resistor input
pin, wherein the second termination resistor is electrically
connected between the second termination resistor input pin and the
second bus input conductor; and wherein the bus connector
comprises: a first bus output pin; a second bus output pin; and
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins, the
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins
being configurable to provide a first termination configuration
that electrically interconnects the first and second bus output
pins and interconnects the configurable first and second
termination resistor output pins, to electrically connect the first
and second termination resistors for terminating the bus, and the
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins
being configurable to provide a second termination configuration
that provides an open electrical circuit between the first and
second bus output pins and an open electrical circuit between the
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins.
11. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 10,
wherein the bus comprises a CAN bus and the first bus output pin is
electrically connected to a CAN high wire of the CAN bus and the
second bus output pin is electrically connected to a CAN low wire
of the CAN bus.
12. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 10,
wherein the bus comprises a CAN bus onboard an airplane.
13. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 10,
wherein the node comprises an LRU onboard an airplane.
14. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 10,
wherein the configurable first and second termination resistor
output pins are configured in the first configuration in response
to the system being positioned at an end of the bus.
15. The pin-configurable bus termination system of claim 10,
wherein the bus comprises a CAN bus and the node comprises an LRU,
wherein the configurable first and second termination resistor
output pins are configured in the first termination configuration
in response to the LRU being positioned at an end of the CAN bus
and the configurable first and second termination resistor pins are
configured in the second termination configuration in response to
the LRU not being at an end of the CAN bus.
16. A method for configuring termination of a bus, comprising:
electrically connecting a first internal termination resistor
between a first termination resistor pin of an input connector of a
node and a first bus input conductor of the node; electrically
connecting a second internal termination resistor between a second
termination resistor pin of the input connector and a second bus
input conductor of the node; determining if the node is located at
an end of the bus; configuring a bus connector to provide a first
termination configuration in response to the node being located at
the end of the bus, the first termination configuration comprising
electrically interconnecting configurable first and second
termination resistor pins and interconnecting first and second bus
output pins of the bus connector; and configuring the bus connector
to provide a second termination configuration in response to the
node not being located at the end of the bus, the second
termination configuration comprising providing an open electrical
circuit between the first and second bus output pins and an open
electrical circuit the configurable first and second termination
resistor pins.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the node comprises an LRU, the
method further comprising providing the LRU comprising the first
internal termination resistor electrically connected between the
first termination resistor pin of the input connector and the first
bus input conductor and the second internal termination resistor
electrically connected between the second termination resistor pin
of the input connector and the second bus input conductor.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the bus comprises a CAN bus,
the method further comprising electrically connecting the
configurable first termination resistor pin to a CAN high wire of
the CAN bus and electrically connecting the configurable second
termination resistor pin to a CAN low wire of the CAN bus.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first termination resistor
and the second termination resistor each comprise a resistance of
approximately 60 ohms.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the bus and node are onboard an
airplane.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to data communications buses,
and more particularly to pin-configurable internal bus termination
system for use with data communications buses onboard an airplane
or other vehicle and method for configuring connector pins for
connecting termination resistors to form a termination
resistance.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Modem aircraft are complex devices that include multiple
different systems. Many of these systems may be electrically
interconnected for transmitting data and for controlling the
different systems. The electrical interconnections between aircraft
systems may include multiple buses with hundreds of wire
interconnections. For example, a Boeing 787 currently has 134
Controller Area Network (CAN) buses that interconnect data bus
gateways and hundreds of line replaceable units (LRUs) representing
hundreds of wire connections. A CAN bus is a linear multi-drop
bi-directional data bus conforming to international. Standard
ISO-11898. Each unit on the bus (system or LRU) may referred to as
a node. Originally intended to support automotive applications, CAN
buses may also be utilized in aerospace applications because of
their cost effective and efficient networking capability for Line
Replaceable Units (LRU's) that may share data across a common
media. Typical CAN bus wiring is a 120 ohm shielded-twisted pair,
identified as CAN-High (CAN-H) wire or line, CAN-Low (CAN-L) wire
or line, with a CAN Shield (CAN-SHLD) wire or conductor. A CAN bus
is terminated at each physical extreme end (e.g. the very end of
the bus or last node on the bus) by a 120 ohm resistor for proper
operation of the CAN bus. The resistor connects the CAN-H wire and
CAN-L wire or high and low lines of the CAN bus to reduce signal
reflections while providing a load for CAN transceivers to drive a
signal. A current common arrangement or method for adding
termination resistors on an airplane CAN bus is to splice a 1.5
meter wire stub at the physical extreme ends of the CAN bus. Each
stub has a 120 ohm termination resistor at one end. These stubs are
labor intensive to create due to the termination resistor and wire
splice on the main bus. Furthermore, the wire splice and resistor
add weight and must be coiled and stowed on the airplane. There can
be hundreds of such terminations onboard a commercial airplane.
These, terminations also add an additional component that can fell
and is difficult to test in that most CAN buses do not provide
direct access.
SUMMARY
[0003] In accordance with an embodiment, a pin-configurable bus
termination system may include a bus connector attached to an end
of a bus. The bus connector may be configured for electrically
connecting the bus to an input connector of a node. The node may
include an internal bus termination resistance (which may be
referred to herein also as a termination resistor) that may be
optionally chosen based on a selected configuration of the bus
connector. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a
second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination
resistor pins. The configurable first and second termination
resistor pins may be configurable to provide a first termination
configuration and a second termination configuration. The first
termination configuration may electrically interconnect the first
and second bus output pins and the configurable first and second
termination resistor pins to electrically connect the internal bus
termination resistor for terminating the bus. The second
termination configuration, tor use on nodes not at a physical end
of the bus, may include an open electrical circuit between the
first and second bus output pins and the configurable first and
second termination resistor pins, thereby removing the bus
termination resistor from the bus circuit.
[0004] In accordance with another embodiment, a pin-configurable
bus termination system may include a bus connector attached to an
end of a bus. The pin-configurable bus termination system may also
include a node that includes a first bus input conductor, a first
termination resistor, a second bus input conductor, a second
termination resistor and an input connector. The input connector of
the node may be configured to receive the bus connector for
connecting the bus to the node. The input connector of the node may
include a first bus input pin and a first termination resistor
input pin. The first bus input pin is electrically connected to the
first bus input conductor. The first-termination resistor may be
electrically connected between the first termination resistor input
pin and the first bus input conductor. The input connector of the
node may also include a second bus input pin and a second
termination resistor input pin. The second bus input pin is
electrically connected to the second bus input conductor. The
second termination resistor may be electrically connected between
the second termination resistor input pin and the second bus input
conductor. The bus connector may include a first bus output pin, a
second bus output pin and configurable first and second termination
resistor output pins. The configurable first and second termination
resistor output pins may be configurable to provide a first
termination configuration and a second termination configuration.
The first termination, configuration electrically interconnects the
first and second, bus output pins and the configurable first and
second termination resistor output pins to electrically connect,
the first and second termination resistors for terminating the bus.
The second termination configuration may provide an open electrical
circuit between the first and second bus output pins and the
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins.
[0005] In accordance with a further embodiment, a method for
configuring termination of a bus may include electrically
connecting a first internal termination resistor between a first
termination resistor pin of an input connector of a node and a
first bus input conductor of the node. The method may also include
electrically connecting a second internal termination resistor
between a second termination resistor pin of the input connector
and a second bus input conductor of the node. The method may
additionally include determining if the node is located at an end
of the bus. The method may additionally include configuring a bus
connector to provide a first termination configuration in response
to the node being located at the end of the bus. The first
termination configuration may include electrically interconnecting
configurable first and second termination resistor pins and first
and second bus output pins of the bus connector. The method may
further include configuring the bus connector to provide a second
termination configuration in response to the node not being located
at the end of the bus. The second termination configuration may
include providing an open electrical circuit between the first and
second bus output pins and the configurable first and second
termination resistor pins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
[0006] The following detailed description of embodiments refers to
the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of
the disclosure. Other embodiments having different structures and
operations do not depart from the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 1A is a block schematic diagram of an example of a
vehicle including a pin-configurable bus termination system
illustrating a first termination configuration for terminating a
bus in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 1B is a block schematic diagram, of the exemplary
vehicle in FIG. 1A including the pin-configurable bus termination
system illustrating a second termination configuration in which the
termination resistors are not connected for termination of the bus
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a flow chart of an exemplary, method for
configuring pin-configurable internal bus termination resistors in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The following detailed description of embodiments refers to
the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific embodiments of
the disclosure. Other embodiments having different structures and
operations do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure.
Like reference numerals may refer to the same element or component
in the different drawings.
[0011] The exemplary pin-configurable internal bus termination
resistor embodiments are described herein as being used in
association with CAN buses. However, those skilled in the art will
recognize that the embodiments described herein may be easily
applied to any type of bus or wiring arrangement. Additionally, the
pin-configurable Internal bus termination resistor embodiments are
described as being associated with LRUs onboard a vehicle or
airplane. However, the pin-configurable internal bus termination
resistor arrangement, and principles described herein may be
applicable to other systems, environments or applications.
[0012] FIG. 1A is a block schematic diagram of an example of a
vehicle 100 including a pin-configurable bus termination system 102
illustrating a first termination configuration for terminating a
bus 104 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
The vehicle 100 may be an airplane or other vehicle including
communications buses or data buses that interconnect systems or
subsystems of the vehicle for communications between the systems or
subsystems and for controlling operation of the systems or
subsystems. The bus may be a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus that
may include a first wire 106 or conductor that may be referred to
as a CAN High (CAN-H) wire or conductor and a second wire 108 or
conductor that may be referred to as a CAN Low (CAN-L) wire or
conductor. The CAN bus may also include a shield wire or conductor,
CAN-SHLD, which is not shown in FIG. 1A or FIG. 1B. While the
present disclosure describes the pin-configurable bus termination
system 102 as being onboard a vehicle 100, such as an airplane, the
exemplary pin-configuration bus termination system 102 described
herein may be easily adapted tor use in any environment or
application.
[0013] The pin-configurable bus termination system 102 may include
a bus connector 110 attached to an end 112 of the bus 104. The bus
connector 110 is configured for electrically connecting the bus 104
to an input connector 114 of a node 116 of the vehicle 100. The
node 116 may be a line replaceable unit (LRU) or other device. The
LRU may be a vehicle or airplane component or component of an
airplane system that is modular and designed to be quickly replaced
at an operating location, such as an airport or maintenance
facility. Examples of LRUs may include but are not necessarily
limited to a smoke detector, a radar system, a communications
device or system or other systems or subsystems of the vehicle or
airplane,
[0014] The node 116 or LRU may include a first bus input conductor
118, a first termination resistor 120, a second bus input conductor
122 and a second termination resistor 124. The first termination
resistor 120 and the second termination resistor 124 are internal
termination resistors and are connected internally within the node
116 or LRU as shown in FIG. 1A. The input connector 114 is
configured to receive the bus connector 110 for electrically
connecting the bus 104 to the node 116 or LRU. The bus connector
110 when electrically connected to input connector 114 electrically
connects the first wire 106 or CAN-H wire of the bus 104 to the
first bus input conductor 118 and electrically connects the second
wire 108 or CAN-L wire to the second bus input conductor 122.
[0015] The input connector 114 may include a first bus input pin
126 and a first termination resistor input pin 128. The first bus
input pin 126 is electrically connected to the first bus input
conductor 118. The first termination resistor 120 is electrically
connected between the first termination resistor input pin 128 and
the first bus input conductor 118. The input connector 114 also
includes a second bus input pin 130 and a second termination
resistor input pin 132. The second bus input pin 130 is
electrically connected to the second bus input conductor 122. The
second termination resistor 124 is electrically connected between
the second termination resistor input pin 132 and the second bus
input conductor 122.
[0016] The bus connector 110 includes a first bus output pin 134
electrically connected to the first wire 106 or CAN-H wire of the
bus 104 and a second bus output pin 136 electrically connected to
the second wire 108 or CAN-L wire of the bus 104. The bus connector
110 also includes configurable first and second termination
resistor output pins 138 and 140. The configurable first and second
termination resistor output pins 138 and 140 are configurable to
provide a first termination configuration 142 as depicted in FIG.
1A and a second termination configuration 144 as depicted in FIG.
1B. The configurable first and second termination resistor output
pins 138 and 140 may be configured by any suitable mechanical means
for making the electrical connections shown in FIG. 1A and
described herein to provide the first termination configuration
142, or alternatively, the disconnections or open circuit depicted
in FIG. 1B and described below to provide the second termination
configuration 144. For example, the bus connector 110 may include a
single throw multiple pole switch 141 that may be selectively
operated to provide either the first termination configuration 142
in FIG. 1A or the second configuration 144 in FIG. 1B. The first
termination configuration 142 electrically interconnects the first
and second bus output pins 134 and 136, and also, the first
termination configuration 142 separately interconnects the
configurable first and second termination resistor output pins 138
and 140, to electrically connect the first and second termination
resistors 120 and 124 for terminating the bus 104 when the bus
connector 110 is electrically connected to the input connector 114.
The configurable first and second termination resistor output pins
138 and 140 are configured in the first termination configuration
142 by selectively operating the switch 141 or other suitable
mechanism when the node 116 or LRU is connected to the bus 104 at
an extreme physical end of the bus 104 or is the last node 116 or
LRU connected to the bus 104. The first termination resistor output
pin 138 electrically connects to the first termination input pin
128 of node input connector 114 and the second termination,
resistor output pin 140 electrically connects to the second
termination resistor input pin 132 of the node input connector 114
when the bus connector 110 is electrically connected to the node
input connector 114 to terminate the bus 104 with the first and
second termination resistors 120 and 124. If the first and second
termination resistors 120 and 124 are for terminating a bus having
a characteristic impedance of about 120 ohms from combining in
series, such as a CAN bus, the first termination resistor and the
second termination resistor may each be about 60 ohm resistors.
Likewise, the first bus output pin 134 electrically connects to the
first bus input pin 126 of the node input connector 114 and the
second bus output pin 136 electrically connects to the second bus
input pin 130 of the node input connector 114 when the bus
connector 110 is electrically connected to the node input connector
114.
[0017] Referring also to FIG. 1B, the configurable first and second
termination resistor output pins 138 and 140 are configurable to
provide the second configuration 144 in response to the node 116 or
LRU not being at an end of the bus 104 but rather located at some
intermediate location along the bus 104. The second configuration
144 provides an open electrical circuit between the first and
second bus output pins 134 and 136 and also an open electrical
circuit between the configurable first and second termination
resistor output pins 138 and 140 as shown in FIG. 1B. FIG. 1B is a
block schematic diagram of the exemplary vehicle 100 including the
pin-configurable bus termination system 102 illustrating the second
configuration 144 in which the termination resistors 120 and 124
are not connected for termination of the bus 104 in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure. The configurable first and
second termination resistor output plus 138 and 140 are selectively
configured in the second configuration 144 by operating the switch
141 or other mechanism when the node 116 or LRU is not at an
extreme end of the bus 104 or is the last node 116 or LRU connected
to the bus 104.
[0018] FIG. 2 Is a flow chart of an exemplary method 200 for
configuring pin-configurable internal bus termination resistors for
terminating a bus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure. In block 202, a node may be provided including a first
internal termination resistor and a second internal termination
resistor. The first internal termination resistor may be
electrically connected between a first termination resistor pin of
an input connector of the node and a first bus input conductor of
the node. The second termination, resistor may be connected between
a second termination resistor pin of the input connector of the
node and a second bus input conductor of the node. The node may be
a LRU or similar component of a vehicle, such as an airplane. If
the first and second termination resistors are for terminating a
bus having a characteristic impedance of about 120 ohms, such as a
CAN bus, the first termination resistor and the second termination
resistor may each be about 60 ohm resistors.
[0019] In block 204, a determination may be made whether the node
is at an extreme physical end of the bus or is the last node
connected to the bus. If the node is connected at an extreme
physical end of the bus, the method 200 may advance to block 206.
In block 206, pins of a bus connector may be configured to provide
a first configuration in response to the system being located at
the end of the bus. The first configuration may include
electrically interconnecting configurable first and second
termination resistor pins and first and second bus output pins of
the bus connector. The bus connector is configured for electrically
connecting the bus to the input connector of the node.
[0020] In block 208, performance acceptance testing may be
performed on the node with the first and second termination
resistors connected to the first and second wires of she bus to
terminate the bus. The bus may be a CAN bus. Accordingly, to the
first bus wire may be a CAN high wire of the CAN bus and the second
bus may be a CAN low wire of the CAN bus. The bus connector is
configured in the first termination configuration with the
configurable first termination resistor pin electrically connected
to the CAN high wire or conductor of the CAN bus and the
configurable second termination resistor pin electrically connected
to the C AN low wire or conductor of the CAN bus. The first and
second termination resistors are then respectively connected to the
CAN high wire and CAN low wire of the CAN bus to terminate the
bus.
[0021] Referring back to block 204, if the node is not connected to
the bus at an extreme physical end of the bus, the method 200 may
advance to block 210. In block 210, pins of the bus connector may
be configured to provide a second termination configuration in
response to the node not being located at the end of the bus but
rather the system is connected at some intermediate location along
the bus. The second termination configuration may include providing
an open electrical circuit between the first and second bus output
pins and the configurable first and second termination resistor
pins of the bus connector.
[0022] In block 212, normal performance acceptance testing of the
node may be performed without the termination resistors being
connected to the bus wires for termination of the bus.
[0023] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate
the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible
implementations of systems and methods according to various
embodiments of the present invention. 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 block
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.
[0024] The terminology used herein is for t be purpose of
describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be
limiting of embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the
singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the
plural loons as well, unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises"
and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, 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.
[0025] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and
equivalents of ah means or step plus function elements in the
claims below are intended to include any structure, material or act
for performing the function in combination with other claimed
elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present
invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and
description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to
embodiments of the invention in the form disclosed. Many
modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary
skill in the art without departing, from the scope and spirit of
embodiments of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of embodiments of
the invention and the practical application, and to enable others
of ordinary skill in the art to understand embodiment of the
invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated.
[0026] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and
described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate
that any arrangement which is calculated to achieve the same
purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and
that embodiments of the invention have other applications in other
environments. This application is intended to cover any adaptations
or variations of the present invention. The following claims are in
no way intended to limit the scope of embodiments of the invention
to the specific embodiments described herein.
* * * * *