Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/408,690, filed September 21, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety ⁷ .

Field of the Disclosure

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to harvesting ions from a liquid solution. More specifically, the present disclosure is directed to devices and methods for directly storing ions harvested from a liquid solution within a battery.

Background

[0003] Lithium (Li) is a unique element exhibiting the most negative redox potential. This makes Li extraordinarily reactive and valuable across various electrochemical applications. The demand for Li metal has increased exponentially over the last twenty^ years, and this trend is certain to continue as society ⁷ becomes increasingly dependent on lithium for applications such as personal devices, cars, and home energy storage.

[0004] The world’s primary reserves of lithium are estimated at over 250 billion tons, of which 230 billion tons are present within oceans, while the remaining amount exists as ores or continental brines. Despite this fact, because the concentration of Li is so dilute within the world’s oceans, current methods of gathering lithium primarily focus on evaporating these continental brines. In Chile, for example, lithium-rich water from underground lakes is pumped into large shallow pools and slowly evaporated under the hot sun, leaving behind lithium salts that need to be further refined to capture the usable final product. This practice for extracting lithium from brine solutions requires a large amount of space and time due to the large evaporation pools involved. While water is evaporating, hydrated lime Ca(OH)2 is added to the brine solution to precipitate unwanted elements such as magnesium. The resulting solution is then treated to remove other elements and contaminants. The solution is then further treated with soda ash Na2CO3 to precipitate out lithium carbonate Li2CO3 which is then used to achieve the final lithium product. [0005] This whole process requires a large amount of water, space, time, and energy to produce usable lithium. The process can also damage local water supplies, as many of the elements dissolved in the brine solution are not fit for consumption. Moreover, lithium is generally mined and collected in countries thousands of miles away from where it will be turned into products that are in turn thousands of miles from the end user. [0006] Accordingly, there still exists a need in the art for devices and methods capable of storing ions from a liquid solution directly into a form that is immediately usable.

Summary of the Disclosure

[0007] The present disclosure is generally related to devices and methods for directly storing ions harvested from a liquid solution into a battery'. This is achieved, at least partially, by coupling the battery to a capacitive deionizer so that the cation electrode layer of the deionizer also serves as the anode of the battery. The deionizer further includes an exchange membrane layer which is configured to selectively absorb ions from the liquid solution. In this way, the ions are selectively harvested from the liquid solution and passed through the shared cation electrode/anode into the battery. The ions may then pass to the battery cathode by applying a voltage between the anode and cathode of the battery. Accordingly, the techniques of this disclosure provide a cleaner and more efficient process for harvesting ions.

[0008] Generally, one aspect of this disclosure relates to a battery charging device. The battery charging device includes an inlet configured to receive a liquid solution and an outlet configured to discharge the deionized liquid solution. The device further includes a fluid tight casing. The device further includes a deionizer contained within the casing, the deionizer including: i) an anion electrode layer, ii) a cation electrode layer, iii) a mesh layer extending from the inlet to the outlet and positioned between the anion electrode layer and the cation electrode layer, and iv) an exchange membrane layer positioned between the mesh layer and the cation electrode layer and configured to selectively absorb ions from the liquid solution. The device further includes a battery contained within the casing, the battery including: i) an anode layer, ii) a cathode layer, and iii) an electrolyte layer positioned between the anode layer and the cathode layer. The cation electrode layer of the deionizer serves as the anode layer of the battery. The device is configured so when a first voltage is applied between the anion electrode layer and the cation electrode layer, the ions are selectively absorbed from the mesh layer of the deionizer into the anode layer of the battery, via the exchange membrane layer, and when a second voltage is applied between the anode layer and the cathode layer, the ions are moved from the anode layer through electrolyte layer and stored within the cathode layer.

[0009] In some embodiments, the device further includes a gasket separating the deionizer and the battery.

[0010] In some embodiments, the device further includes a support substrate, wherein the deionizer and the battery are mounted on the substrate, and a spring configured to apply a compressive force between the deionizer and battery via the substrate. [0011] In some embodiments, the deionizer and the battery are confined within a containment tube within the casing.

[0012] In some embodiments, the deionizer and the battery are positioned in between a pair of current collector layers.

[0013] In some embodiments, the current collector layers include one of copper, stainless steel, indium, titanium, iron, nickel, zinc, aluminum, germanium, and/or an alloy thereof.

[0014] In some embodiments, the anion electrode layer includes graphite and/or graphene.

[0015] In some embodiments, the mesh layer includes a neoprene mesh sheet with a honeycomb pattern formed upon the neoprene mesh sheet.

[0016] In some embodiments, the exchange membrane layer is configured to selectively absorb lithium ions.

[0017] In some embodiments, the exchange membrane layer includes lithium lanthanum titanium oxide.

[0018] In some embodiments, the cathode electrode layer includes one of lithium cobalt oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, and/or lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide. [0019] In some embodiments, the electrolyte layer includes a lithium salt solution.

[0020] In some embodiments the electrolyte layer includes a solid material.

[0021] In some embodiments, the battery is connected to an external load powered by a current generated by the movement of ions from the anode layer into the electrolyte layer.

[0022] Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a power station including a plurality of the battery charging devices.

[0023] Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for storing ions within a battery. The method includes receiving an ion rich liquid solution via an inlet of a fluid tight casing, the ion rich solution flowing through a mesh layer of a deionizer, the mesh layer extending from the inlet to an outlet configured to discharge the deionized liquid solution. The method further includes applying a first voltage between an anion electrode layer and a cation electrode layer of the deionizer, the cation electrode layer of the deionizer serving as an anode layer of a battery. The method further includes selectively absorbing ions from the mesh layer of the deionizer into the anode layer of the battery, via an exchange membrane layer positioned between the mesh layer and the cation electrode layer, in response to the first voltage. The method further includes applying a second voltage between the anode layer and a cathode layer of the battery. The method further includes storing the ions within the cathode layer as the ions are moved from the anode layer through the electrolyte layer in response to the second voltage. [0024] In some embodiments, selectively absorbing ions from the mesh layer further includes selectively absorbing lithium ions from the mesh layer.

[0025] In some embodiments, the method further includes driving a load with a current generated from the movement of ions from the anode layer to the electrolyte layer.

[0026] In some embodiments, the battery is a first battery', and the method further includes, disconnecting the first battery from the battery- charging device and replacing it with a second battery when the first battery reaches a saturation threshold.

[0027] In some embodiments, the method further includes deactivating the first voltage when the battery reaches a saturation threshold.

[0028] It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

[0029] These and other aspects of the various embodiments will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] FIG. 1 is an external view of a battery charging device according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0031] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view- of the battery- charging device according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic of the internal components of the battery' charging device according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0033] FIG. 4 is an illustration of the movement of ions through the internal components of the battery charging device according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for storing ions in a battery according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates a pow er station according to some aspects of the present disclosure;

[0036] FIG. 7 illustrates a pow er station for extracting ions from geothermal brine according to some aspects of the present disclosure; and [0037] FIG. 8 illustrates a ship powered by the battery charging device according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description of Embodiments

[0038] The present disclosure is generally related to devices and methods for storing ions harvested from a liquid solution directly into a battery . This is achieved, at least partially, by coupling the battery to a capacitive deionizer so that the cation electrode layer of the deionizer also serves as the anode of the battery. The deionizer further includes an exchange membrane layer which is configured to selectively absorb ions from the liquid solution. In this way, the ions are selectively harvested from the liquid solution and passed through the shared cation electrode/anode into the battery. The ions may then pass to the battery cathode by applying a voltage between the anode and cathode of the battery. Accordingly, the techniques of this disclosure provide a cleaner and more efficient process for harvesting ions.

[0039] Unlike conventional approaches which seek to improve ion harvesting by ⁷ improving the extraction process itself, such as with improved treatment processes, the techniques of this disclosure improve the harvesting process, at least partially, through the realization that the extraction process may instead be improved by storing the ions in a useful form for energy production as part of the extraction process.

[0040] FIG. 1 is an external view of a battery charging device 2. Battery charging device 2 includes a fluid tight casing 4. Casing 2 includes an upper casing 6 and a lower casing 8 separated by gasket 10. Casing 4 protects the interior components of battery ⁷ charging device 2 from any potential corrosion or contamination from the working environment. Casing 2, for example, can be made from stainless steel to provide mechanical strength and to further prevent corrosion from continuous exposure to external fluids. Battery ⁷ charging device 2 further includes retaining bolts 12 and nuts 14 which serve to further seal battery charging device 2 from the external environment. This is especially important when battery charging device 2 is submerged in an external solution. Retaining bolts 12 and nuts 14 may be standard off-the shelf-products. For example, retaining bolts 12 and nuts 14 may be standard 10-32 fasteners. The battery ⁷ charging device 2 further includes an inlet 16 and outlet 18. The inlet 16 is configured to receive an ion rich liquid solution 20 (as shown in FIG. 4), while outlet 18 is configured to discharge a deionized liquid solution 22 (as also shown in FIG. 4). Inlet 16 and outlet 18 may be off-the-shelf push-to-connect fittings for forming a watertight connection.

[0041] FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively illustrate a cross sectional view of battery charging device 2 and a schematic of the internal components of battery charging device 2. The internal components of battery charging device 2 include a deionizer 24 and a battery 26. Battery 26, for example, may be a solid-state battery' lithium-ion battery', which has the advantage of a reduced chance of flammability’, especially when implemented as a standard or gel-based lithium ion battery. Deionizer 24 includes an anion electrode layer 28, a cation electrode layer 34, and a mesh layer 30 extending from inlet 16 to outlet 18 (as shown in FIG. 4) and positioned between the anion electrode layer 28 and the cation electrode layer 34. Deionizer 24 further includes an exchange membrane layer 32 positioned between mesh layer 30 and cation electrode layer 34. As further detailed below, exchange membrane layer 32 is configured to selectively absorb ions from ion rich liquid solution 20. Battery 26 includes an anode layer 34, a cathode layer 38, and an electrolyte layer 36 positioned between the anode layer 34 and cathode layer 38. Notably, cation electrode layer 34 of deionizer 24 serves as the anode layer of battery 26. Accordingly, for the purposes of this disclosure, both the cation electrode layer of deionizer 24 and the anode layer of battery 26 will be discussed with reference to reference number 34.

[0042] Anion electrode layer 28 may be any material capable of storing negative ions through non-faradaic or faradaic processes. For example, anion electrode layer 28 may include carbon materials such as graphite, graphene, and/or active carbon. Additionally or alternatively, Ag/AgCl can be included to reduce the concentration of chlorine ions C1-. In one example, the anion electrode layer 28 is made with graphite with a diameter of 31.75 mm and a thickness of 254 pm.

[0043] Cation electrode layer 34 serves as both the negative electrode of battery 26 and the positive electrode of deionizer 24. This layer may include, for example, carbon materials such as graphite, graphene, active carbon and/or faradaic materials such as Mn02, MoS2, FePO4, and Lithium manganese oxides, Lithium-manganese-titanium oxide (LMTO) with vary ing concentrations of titanium dioxide (TiO2). In one example, cation electrode layer 34 is made from active carbon with a diameter of 31.75 mm and a thickness of 254 pm.

[0044] Mesh layer 30 may be a standard mesh material made from neoprene mesh sheets, which have a honeycomb patterned structure to allow the free transport of solutions between the electrodes of ionizer 24. In one example, mesh layer 30 is made with neoprene with a diameter of 31.75 mm and a thickness of 127 pm.

[0045] Exchange membrane layer 32 may be any suitable material capable of selectively absorbing ions. For example, Li ionic superconductor-type crystals such as lithium lanthanum titanium oxide (LLTO), lithium lanthanum zirconium oxide (LLZO),

Li _1+x+y Al _x (Ti, Ge) _2-x SiyP _3-y O ₁₂ , Selemion (CSO/ASA). and/or Neosepta (CIMS/ACS), may be used for the selective absorption of Li. In one example, exchange membrane layer 32 is made with lithium lanthanum titanium oxide (LLTO) with a diameter of 31.75 mm and a thickness of 450 pm. [0046] Electrolyte layer 36 may include a liquid or solid electrolyte depending on the specific application. A liquid electrolyte may include a lithium salt solution such as lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6). A solid electrolyte may include a sulfide-based solid electrolyte material. The sulfide-based solid electrolyte material includes, for example, Li ₂ S — P ₂ S ₅ or Li ₂ S — P ₂ S ₅ — LiX, where X is a halogen element, e.g., iodine (I) or chlorine (Cl). In this regard, the sulfide-based solid electrolyte material is prepared by treating a starting material (e.g., Li ₂ S, P ₂ S ₅ , LiCl, Lil or the like) by a metal quenching method. Mechanical milling may be performed after the treatment. The solid electrolyte may be amorphous, crystalline, or in a mixed form. In one example, electrolyte layer 36 is made from a sulfide electrolyte material Li ₆ PS ₅ Cl with a thickness of 1 mm and a diameter of 6.35 mm.

[0047] Cathode layer 38 may include a cathode active material and an electrolyte. The cathode active material may be any suitable cathode active material capable of reversibly intercalating ions. For example, when exchange membrane layer 32 is configured to absorb Li ions, this active material could include at least one of lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), or lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM). In one example, cathode layer 38 is a made from CM with a thickness of 2 mm and a diameter of 6.35 mm. The electrolyte included in cathode layer 38 may be similar to or different from the material used in electrolyte layer 36.

[0048] Deionizer 24 and battery 26 may be positioned between a pair of current collector layers, including a first current collector layer 40 and a second current collector layer 42. Including current collector layers 40 and 42 would have the advantage of increasing the rate of ion storage within battery 26 by increasing the flow of ions through mesh layer 30. In cases where current collector layers 40 and 42 are omited, anion electrode layer 28 and cathode layer 38 may perform the function of current collection.

[0049] Both current collector layers 40 and 42 may take the form of a plate or foil, and may include at least one of copper (Cu), stainless steel (SUS), indium (In), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), Zin (Zn), aluminum (Al), germanium (Ge), and/or an alloy thereof. In one example, current collector layers 40 and 42 are copper plates with a diameter of 31.75 mm and a thickness of 1600.2 pm.

[0050] With reference to FIG. 2. batery charging device 2 may further include a support substrate 44, wherein deionizer 24 and battery 26 are mounted on substrate 44, and a spring 46 configured to apply a compressive force between deionizer 24 and batten- 26 via substrate 44. Spring 46 pushes up on support substrate 44 to maintain contact between the various layers of deionizer 24 and battery 26. This compressive force helps to seal the deionizer from external fluids and further minimizes any loss from interfacial resistance between the various layers. Spring 46, for example, may be made of stainless steel with an exemplary spring constant of 62.14 N/m, while support substrate 44 may be made of aluminum. This would have the advantage of reducing the overall weight of the device.

[0051] Deionizer 24 and battery 26 may be further contained within a containment tube 48 within casing 4. Containment tube 48 may further protect the internal components of battery ⁷ charging device 2 from exterior forces and fluids. Containment tube 48, for example, may be made from poly ether ether ketone (PEEK).

[0052] Gasket 10, for example, may be made from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and separates deionizer 24 from battery 26 within casing 4. This prevents fluid circulating within deionizer 24 from leaking into battery 26. Gasket 10 further helps to isolate circuitry used to drive deionizer 24 from circuitry ⁷ used to cycle battery 26. Gasket 10, for example, may be created by modifying an off-the-shelf gasket or from 3D printing TPU. Hole 50 may be made in upper casing 6 and a groove may be cut into gasket 10 so that electric wires can be inserted to connect deionizer 24 to an external power supply. This external power supply may be used to provide a first voltage 52, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0053] FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively illustrate the movement of ions through the internal components of battery charging device 2, and method 100 for storing ions within a battery according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Step 102 of method 100 includes receiving an ion rich solution via an inlet of a fluid tight casing. This step could be performed by ion rich solution 20 being received via inlet 16. FIG. 4 shows ion rich solution 20 including positive ions Mg, Li, and Na, and negative ions Cl and S0 ₄ . Ion rich solution 20 flows through mesh layer 30 of deionizer 24. Mesh layer 30 extends from inlet 16, where ion rich solution 20 is received, to outlet 18, which is configured to discharge deionized solution 22. Step 104 of method 100 includes applying a first voltage 52 between the anion electrode layer 28 and the cation electrode layer 34. First voltage 52 creates an electrostatic field pulling the negatively charged ions into anion electrode layer 28 and the positively charged ions in the direction of cation electrode layer 34.

[0054] Step 106 of method 100 includes selectively absorbing ions from mesh layer 30 into the anode layer of the battery ⁷ , via exchange membrane layer 32 positioned between mesh layer 30 and cation electrode layer 34, in response to first voltage 52. For example, in FIG. 4. exchange membrane layer 32 is configured to selectively absorb lithium ions into the anode layer of battery 24, which doubles as cation electrode layer 34. Therefore, only Li-ions reach cation electrode layer 34 and are absorbed by the active material in this layer. Other positively charged ions are either attracted to the top surface of exchange membrane layer 32 due to electrostatic force or flow out of battery charging device 2 with deionized solution 22 once exchange membrane surface 32 becomes saturated by these ions. Meanwhile, the negatively charged ions are absorbed by anion electrode layer 28 without any selectivity since no exchange membrane separates this layer from mesh layer 30. Excess negative ions similarly flow out with deionized solution 22 when anion electrode layer 28 becomes saturated.

[0055] Step 108 of method 100 includes applying a second voltage 54 between the anode layer and cathode layer 38 of battery 26. Second voltage 54 extracts ions stored in cation electrode layer 34 and dissolves the ions into electrolyte layer 36 and moves the ions towards cathode layer 38. Step 110 of method 100 includes storing the ions within cathode layer 38 as the ions are moved from the anode layer through electrolyte layer 36 in response to second voltage 54. Depending on the active material for cation electrode layer 38, ions may either be stored through non-faradaic processes or through faradaic charge-transfer reactions. For example, when carbon materials (such as graphite, graphene, active carbon) are used as the active material, ions are capacitively stored in the porous electrode by forming electrical double layers. While when battery materials (such as Mn02, MoS2, FePO4, LMTO, and TiO2) are used as the active material, ions are inserted into the electrode material by intercalation or redox reactions. If the battery materials are selected, pairing materials (such as Ag/AgCl for Cl-ions) for anion electrode layer 28 should be considered so that charge transfer can happen in the redox reaction.

[0056] First voltage 52 and second voltage 54 may be used to independently operate deionizer 24 and battery 26, thereby enabling different modes of operation. For example, in one mode of operation, both first voltage 52 and second voltage 54 are activated at the same time. This way ionizer 24 continuously absorbs ions from ion rich solution 20, and battery 26 transports these ions from the cation electrode layer 34 to cathode layer 38. In this mode of operation, cathode layer 38 is being continuously refreshed with external lithium ions. Instead of operating as an energy ⁷ source for powering an external load, battery 26 operates as another layer of refinement for ion selectivity and storage.

[0057] Additionally or alternatively, step 112 of method 100 includes driving a load with a current generated from the movement of ions from the anode layer to the electrolyte layer 38. The movement of ions through electrolyte layer 38 corresponds to a movement of electrons that may be used to drive an external load 56. Conventional lithium-ion battery systems suffer capacity degradation after long battery cycling due to Li consumption (side reaction or dead Li within the system). Battery charging device 2 ensures good cyclability by refilling battery 26 with fresh ions. Moreover, the retention of each cycle may be recorded and used as a controlling signal to turn on/off first voltage 52. Only when the retention is below a certain threshold value (for example 98%) will first voltage 52 be applied to replenish cation electrode layer 34 with fresh ions. Additionally or alternatively, first voltage 52 may be deactivated when battery 26 reaches a saturation threshold. This saturation threshold may be based on the retention threshold value. Moreover, battery 26 may be a first battery that is disconnected from battery charging device 2 and replaced with a second battery when the first battery reaches the saturation threshold. In this way Battery' charging device 2 may be continuously operating to store extracted ions in batteries.

[0058] The techniques disclosed herein may be implemented on a small scale all the way up to an industrial scale. This largely would depend on the amount of lithium rich fluid readily available. For example, in the world's oceans there is about 180 billion tons of lithium that are dilute throughout it. FIG. 6 illustrates a pow er station 58 according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Power station 58 contains a battery' charging device 2 as previously discussed, however, in most practical applications, power station 58 will include a plurality of battery charging devices 2. Ion rich seawater 60 enters power station 58 via inlet 16. Ions are extracted from ion rich seawater 60 and used to charge up banks of batteries. These battery banks may then be discharged out to the electric grid via power lines 62. A benefit of power station 58 is that it can sen e as an effective way to store surplus power from the grid when its pow er generation capabilities are not needed. Also, as battery cells become overly saturated with ions, these cells can be removed and replaced and either used as batteries or as storage vessels for ions. This allow s this plant to serve the dual purpose of powder generation and ion harvesting.

[0059] On a smaller scale a similar sy stem design can be used for a home that is either near the ocean or has access to ion rich geothermal brine, which is a very real possibility in many places across the globe. FIG. 7 illustrates power station 58 for extracting ions from geothermal brine 64. Power station 58 applied in this manner could be combined with an existing open-geothermal system 66 such as those conventionally used with many homes for heating and cooling. Power station 58 provides an effective means of temperature control, electricity generation, and electricitystorage for the home. The geothermal case could also be scaled up and used in conjunction with a geothermal electric plant 68 as shown in FIG. 7.

[0060] With lithium being dilute in the world's oceans, battery charging device 2 can be installed in a cargo ship 70, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case as ship 70 is traveling, sea water 60 is forced through inlet 16. This allows ship 70 to generate and store reserve power in the event of a primary generator malfunction. [0061] The techniques of this disclosure have been illustrated primarily with regards to lithium. How ever, it is important to note that the devices and methods disclosed herein are equally applicable to ions other than lithium. For example, there are a multitude of other ions that are also contained in brine w ater such as sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) elements. The techniques of this disclosure could just as easily be used to store sodium ions within a battery’. Based on preliminary prototypes it appears that sodium ion batteries have a longer cycling life than lithium- ion batteries. This fact, combined with the ion storage techniques disclosed herein, would make each battery cell able to last much longer than current lithium-ion batteries. Moreover, extracting sodium ions from a liquid solution has the extra application of desalination/purification of salt water.

[0062] All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

[0063] The indefinite articles “a” and "an." as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary’, should be understood to mean "at least one."

[0064] The phrase "and/or." as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” ofthe elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements can optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0065] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary', such as “only one of’ or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”

[0066] As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every' element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements can optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

[0067] It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

[0068] In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “cartying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of’ and “consisting essentially of’ shall be closed or semiclosed transitional phrases, respectively.

[0069] The above-described examples of the described subject matter can be implemented in any of numerous w ays. For example, some aspects can be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination thereof. When any aspect is implemented at least in part in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single device or computer or distributed among multiple devices/computers.

[0070] The present disclosure can be implemented as a system, a method, and/or a computer program product at any possible technical detail level of integration. The computer program product can include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present disclosure.

[0071] The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium can be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memon (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory' (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.

[0072] Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area netw ork, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network can comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the netw ork and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.

[0073] Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present disclosure can be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions can execute entirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, partly on the user’s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer can be connected to the user's computer through any type of netw ork, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area netw ork (WAN), or the connection can be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some examples, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) can execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry', in order to perform aspects of the present disclosure.

[0074] Aspects of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to examples of the disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. [0075] The computer readable program instructions can be provided to a processor of a, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions can also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram or blocks.

[0076] The computer readable program instructions can also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

[0077] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various examples of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams can represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks can occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession can, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks can 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 cany' out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[0078] Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims and other claims to which the applicant can be entitled.

[0079] While various examples have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the examples described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific examples described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing examples are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, examples can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Examples of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0080] Although various embodiments have been depicted and described in detail herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, and the like can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure and these are therefore considered to be within the scope of the disclosure as defined in the claims w hich follow.