Methods

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.

62/188,410 filed July 2, 2015, entitled "Differential Drive Compressor Systems,

Components, and Methods," the entirety of which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to compressor systems.

BACKGROUND

Certain air compressor designs generally consists of an electric or gas motor, a reciprocating piston head and cylinder with a set of valves, and an air accumulator or air tank. The motor generally drives one or more piston heads that exhibit reciprocating action within their corresponding cylinders. Typically their driven speed is 1500 - 3000 RPM, corresponding to the motor speed itself. The thermodynamics and loss

characteristics of compressing air favor lower speed compressions in the 100 - 1000 RPM pump speed range, which is one reason that some stationary compressors have a belt reduction system that provides slower pump action.

Certain stationary air compressors include a large flywheel that corresponds to the slower pump speed and has enough inertia to power the pump through multiple cycles. In the portable air compressor category, a larger and heavier flywheel detracts from the portability of the compressor. Thus, portable air compressors are generally direct-drive systems that disadvantageously exhibit high pump loss characteristics that manifests as vibration, noise, and heat. SUMMARY

Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and components for providing high- efficiency, high-power, and lightweight pump that utilizes a differential drive system for converting rotary motion into linear actuation to drive the pump and compress air.

Particular embodiments provide a compressor system that includes a drive assembly including a rotary actuator. The drive assembly includes a rotor body coupled to the actuator for rotation about a rotor axis. The drive assembly includes a base coupled to the rotor body and including a first plurality of pulleys. The drive assembly includes a carriage coupled to the base and including a second plurality of pulleys. The carriage is configured to translate along the rotor axis with respect to the base. The drive assembly includes at least one flexible connector wound, in part, about the rotor body, at least one pulley in the first plurality of pulleys, and at least one pulley in the second plurality of pulleys. The compressor system includes a piston assembly including a piston and a piston rod movably coupled to the carriage for linear actuation by the carriage. The compressor system includes an accumulator coupled to the piston to receive air compressed by the piston.

In certain embodiments, the carriage is configured to translate bi-directionally in response to a change in an actuation direction of by the rotary actuator.

In certain embodiments, the rotor body includes a first portion having a first radius and a second portion having a second radius.

In certain embodiments, the at least one flexible connector includes four flexible connectors connected to the rotor body. The four flexible connectors include a first flexible connector, a second flexible connector, a third flexible connector, and a fourth flexible connector. The first flexible connector, the second flexible connector, the third flexible connector, and the fourth flexible connector are each coupled at a respective first end to the first portion of the rotor body and at a respective second end to the second portion of the rotor body. The first flexible connector, the second flexible connector, the third flexible connector, and the fourth flexible connector respectively are spirally wound, in part, around the first portion of the rotor body in a first direction and spirally wound, in part, around the second portion of the rotor body in a second direction. Each of the first flexible connector, the second flexible connector, the third flexible connector, and the fourth flexible connector are wound, in part, about a respective pulley in the first plurality of pulleys. Each of the first flexible connector, the second flexible connector, the third flexible connector, and the fourth flexible connector are each wound, in part, about a respective pulley in the second plurality of pulleys of the carriage.

In certain embodiments, a first plurality of windings of the first flexible connector on the first portion are interleaved with a first plurality of windings of the second flexible connector on the first portion, a second plurality of windings of the first flexible connector on the second portion are interleaved with a second plurality of windings of the second flexible connector on the second portion, a first plurality of windings of the third flexible connector on the first portion are interleaved with a first plurality of windings of the fourth flexible connector on the first portion, and a second plurality of windings of the third flexible connector on the second portion are interleaved with a second plurality of windings of the fourth flexible connector on the second portion.

In certain embodiments, the compressor system includes a pressure gauge coupled to the accumulator.

In certain embodiments, the compressor system includes a controller electrically coupled to the compressor gauge and the rotary actuator. The controller can be configured to actuate the rotary actuator in response to the compressor gauge indicating that the pressure in the accumulator is at or below a first pressure value. The controller is can also be configured to actuate the rotary actuator in response to the compressor gauge indicating that the pressure in the accumulator is at or above a second pressure value.

In certain embodiments, the rotary actuator includes an electric motor.

In certain embodiments, the at least one flexible connector includes a belt. The belt can be composed, at least in part, of polyurethane with a steel reinforcement, vulcanized rubber, or synthetic fibrous rope.

In certain embodiments, the belt has a rectangular cross sectional profile.

In certain embodiments, the piston assembly comprises a piston cylinder housing the piston. In certain embodiments, the compressor system includes a pre-loaded spring coupling a respective pulley in the first plurality of pulleys to the base.

In certain embodiments, a first spring coupling a first respective pulley in the first plurality of pulleys on a first end of the base is in compression and a second spring coupling a respective pulley in the first plurality of pulleys on a second end of the base opposite the first end is also in compression contemporaneously with the first spring being in compression.

In certain embodiments, the compressor system includes a case housing the drive assembly.

Particular embodiments provide a method of compressing air. The method includes rotatably driving a differential drive assembly to cause linear actuation of a carriage. The differential drive assembly includes a rotor, a base coupled to the rotor and including a first plurality of pulleys, a carriage coupled to the base and including a second plurality of pulleys, where the carriage is movable with respect to the base, a flexible connector wound about the rotor, and a piston assembly movably coupled to the carriage for linear actuation by the carriage. The method also includes compressing air in an air accumulator via a piston movably coupled to the carriage and the air accumulator. The piston is configured for translation in response to linear actuation by the carriage.

In certain embodiments, the method includes determining a pressure in the accumulator via a pressure gauge coupled to the accumulator.

In certain embodiments, the method includes controlling the driving of the differential drive assembly in response to a pressure reading in the accumulator received from pressure gauge.

Particular embodiments provide a compressor system including a differential drive assembly configured to rotatably drive a rotor to cause linear actuation of a carriage coupled to the rotor. The system includes a piston coupled to the carriage for linear actuation. The system includes a fluid reservoir coupled to the piston to receive air compressed by the piston.

Particular embodiments provide a compressor system including a drive assembly including a rotary actuator, a rotor coupled to the actuator, a base coupled to the rotor and including a first plurality of pulleys, a carriage coupled to the base and including a second plurality of pulleys, where the carriage is movable with respect to the base, a flexible connector wound about the rotor, and a piston assembly movably coupled to the carriage for linear actuation by the carriage. The system also includes a fluid reservoir fluidly coupled to the piston assembly.

Particular embodiments provide a compressor system including a differential drive assembly configured to rotatably drive a rotor to cause linear actuation of a carriage coupled to the rotor, a piston coupled to the carriage for linear actuation; and a fluid reservoir coupled to the piston to receive air compressed by the piston.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The skilled artisan will understand that the drawing primarily is for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; in some instances, various aspects of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein may be shown exaggerated or enlarged in the drawings to facilitate an understanding of different features. In the drawing, like reference characters generally refer to like features (e.g., functionally similar and/or structurally similar elements).

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air compressor assembly, in accordance with example inventive embodiments. FIG. 2 shows the frame/air tank component of the air compressor assembly of

FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the drive mechanism, of the air compressor assembly of FIG. 1. FIGS. 4-6 show the drive assembly of FIG. 1 translating the carriage of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 depicts the transfer belt mechanism of the compressor assembly of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a cross sectional of the compressor assembly or the air pump of FIG. 1. FIGs. 7 A -7D are perspective views of the rotor and belt arrangement of a drive system, in accordance with example inventive embodiments.

FIG.s 8 A - 8B show an encased portable version of the compressor assembly of

FIG. 1.

The features and advantages of the inventive concepts disclosed herein will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Following below are more detailed descriptions of various concepts related to, and exemplary embodiments of, inventive systems, methods, and components of a compressor assembly.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an air compressor assembly, in accordance with example inventive embodiments. An air compressor assembly 100, is powered by a rotary actuator, such as an electric motor electrically coupled to a power source, including but not limited to a battery. The air compressor assembly 100 includes a drive system 104 for linearly driving a compressing component, such as a pneumatic piston 122, via a piston rod 110 in a piston cylinder 112. The piston cylinder 112 is selectably fluidly coupled to an air tank or air accumulator 102 that receives compressed air from the piston cylinder 112. In certain embodiments, the air tank 102 and the piston cylinder 112 may be integral with one another.

The pneumatic piston 122 can include a double acting piston and including a first and second valve assembly respectively positioned on or near opposing ends of the piston cylinder 112. The valve assembly includes intake valves operable to permit air to enter the piston cylinder 112 for compression. The cylinder 112 can include one or more pressure gauges. A controller for electronically controlling the drive system 104 may be communicably coupled to the pressure gauge and may actuate the motor or deactivate the motor in response to the pressure sensed in the air tank 102 via the pressure gauge. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston rod 110 is driven by a carriage system 130 reciprocally driven by the drive system 104.

The compressor system can include a pressure regulator, a gauge, a safety valve, and a coupling, such as a quick connect coupling, for connecting an air hose to one or more pneumatic tools, systems, or components.

FIG. 2 shows the frame/air tank component of the air compressor assembly of FIG. 1. As illustrated, in certain embodiments, the air tank 102 is formed as a piece of curved or bent tubing. The air tank 102 can thereby act as both a rigid enclosing structure for the pump or compressor components as well as functioning as the air accumulator for the compressor system 100. As discussed further herein, in certain embodiments, the air compressor assembly 100 is configured as a portable air compressor system that may be carried for a user, for example on a user's back.

FIG. 3 shows the drive mechanism, of the air compressor assembly of FIG. 1. The drive assembly 104 includes a rotor 300 and the drive assembly 104 creates linear motion along its primary axis (i.e. an axis 301 of the rotor 300 about which the rotor 300 rotates) that drives the piston 122 to pump air. In particular, the drive assembly 104 is configured for bi-directional linear actuation to reciprocate or push and pull the piston 122 in accordance with certain embodiments. In accordance with particular embodiments, the drive assembly 104 may include, but is not limited to, a differential drive assembly described in U.S. patent application 14/339, 947 (U.S. Patent Publication

US20150027249), which may have a conical or tapered rotor in certain embodiments.

The drive assembly 104 reciprocally drives the carriage 130 along the rotor axis 301 under the actuation of an electric motor The carriage 130 may be linearly coupled to a base 340 of the rotor 300 via a guide shaft 315 or guide opening configured to help guide linear displacement of the carriage along the rotor axis 301. The carriage includes a plurality of carriage pulleys (not shown) that receive the flexible connectors 320, including but not limited to a rope, cable, cord, belt, or other flexible member, wound about the rotor 300. The flexible connectors 320 extend from the carriage pulleys to a plurality of preloaded spring assemblies 331 including pulleys coupled to base 140 by loaded (generally in compression) springs.

FIGS. 4-6 show the drive assembly 104 translating the carriage 130 from a first end of the drive assembly 104 to an opposing end of the drive assembly 104. The drive assembly 104 is configured to translate the carriage 130 back and forth to reciprocally pump the pistons 122 for compress320ion of air.

As discussed further herein, in the illustrated embodiment, the drive assembly 104 includes a plurality of cords, belts, or flexible connectors, namely four cords 220a- 200d each having a terminal end in the rotor 200 (shown in FIGS. 7A-7D). The 220a- 200d can be composed at least in part of materials including, but not limited to polyurethane including a steel reinforcement, vulcanized rubber, and/or synthetic fibrous rope. Each of the four cords 220a- 220d are guided by a respective carriage pulley 210 as a free-length of the cord (e.g. a length of the cord extending between a base pulley 212 and a carriage pulley 210) changes as the carriage 204 is actuated linearly. In certain embodiments, the first rotor section 202 includes a plurality of parallel spiral grooves that are interlaced with one another. In certain embodiments, the second rotor section 206 also includes a plurality of parallel spiral grooves 214 that are interlaced with one another. In certain embodiments, the plurality of parallel spiral grooves 214 includes a pair of parallel spiral grooves. As discussed further herein, the carriage 204 may also include a redirection component, such as a redirection pulley. As used herein the term carriage refers to a component, apparatus, or system for moving another components from a first location or position to a distinct location or position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotor 200 includes a multi-stage rotor having a first section 202 having a first diameter and a second section 206 having a second distinct diameter. The rotor 200 may include other geometries in certain embodiments, including conical geometries or geometries having other stages of differing diameters that vary linearly or nonlinearly along the rotor axis 201. The rotor 200 is connected to a rotary actuator (not shown here) that is coupled to base (not shown here). The plurality of base pulleys 212 are coupled to the base and remain stationary with respect to the base. The carriage 204 and the carriage pulleys 210 move with respect to the base. In certain embodiments, the rotor 200 can be configured to move linearly along an axle of the rotary actuator.

FIGs. 7 A -7D are perspective views of the rotor and belt arrangement of a drive system, in accordance with example inventive embodiments. FIG. 7A shows the rotor 200 and belt arrangement (belts 220a-220d) without the pulleys. FIG. 7B shows the rotor 200 and belt arrangement (belts 220a-220d) of a drive system 704 with the pulleys configured in a manner substantially similar to system 704. The belts 220a-220d (which in certain embodiments include cords, ropes, cables or other flexible components) which wind about the rotor 200 extend from a portion of the first rotor section 202 to a second rotor section 206, extending about at least one carriage pulley 210 and at least base pulley in between the span along the belt from section 202 to section 206. The carriage 204 housing the carriage pulleys 210 is not shown in FIGs. 7A and 7b.

The base pulleys 210 are tensioned in certain embodiments via preloaded spring assemblies 701 shown in FIGs. 7C and 7D. The spring assemblies 701 are mounted to a base 700 and connect the base pulleys 212 to the base 700. The base 700 is configured to house the rotary actuator for rotating rotor 200 along axis 201 or axle 705 in actuator seat 703 As demonstrated in FIGs. 8A - 8C, the tubular air tank 102 may function as the base or be coupled directly to the base 700 to which the base pulleys and/or the rotary actuator configured to rotate the rotor 200 of the drive system 704 are coupled. The springs assemblies 701 are preloaded such that they maintain line tension (e.g. tension in cables 220a-220d). As the carriage 208 (shown housing the carriage pulleys 210 in FIG. 7C) is loaded one way or the other, one set of spring assemblies 701 extends slightly in one direction while the other set of spring assemblies 701 (e.g. the pair of spring assemblies 701 positioned at the opposite end of the rotor 200 in a direction along axis 201) contracts, creating a tension differential that provides a linear force as well as rotor torque. With a counterclockwise rotation of the rotor 200 and rightward movement convention of the carriage 208 along the rotor axis 201, the carriage 208 is loaded to the left to provide positive work. In this circumstance, the left-hand set of spring assemblies 701 extends, and the right-hand set of spring assemblies 701 compresses, and the right- hand cords 220c and 220d are under higher tension, pulling the carriage 208 towards the right-hand side of the frame. As shown in FIG. 7D, the cords 220c-220d end in a rotor terminal point such as rotor terminal point 702.

FIGs. 8 A- 8B show the compressor system 100 arranged in a portable form. The air tank 102 functions as the frame for the compressor system 100. The differential drive system is actuated via motor 801 coupled to rotor 200 configured to rotate about axle 805. The motor 801 is powered via removable battery system 802. In certain

embodiments, the motor 801 may be configured for electrically coupling to an electrical outlet via a power cord or electrical cable. Base legs 803 are coupled to the air tank 102 for standing the compressor system 100 in an upright position. The compressor system 100 also includes harness 804 for carrying the compressor system 100, for example on the back of a user. The carriage 208 reciprocates in the air tank/frame structure 102 to drive pneumatic piston 122 and compress air for the piston 122. One or more shields, shrouds or covers 806, 807 may be coupled to the air tank/frame 102 to house and protect components of the compressor system 100. As demonstrated in FIG. 8b, one or more couplings 811, such as quick connect couplings, may be positioned in a portion of the shrouds 806 and/or 807. The coupling 811 is fluidly coupled to air tank 102. The shrouds 806, 807 may also house one or more gauges 810 fluidly coupled to air tank 102 or other components. The shrouds 806 and 807 may also house one or more controllers electrically coupled to the motor 801 to control rotation of the motor in response to one or more of a sensed or detected pressure in the air tank 102.

As utilized herein, the terms "approximately," "about," "substantially" and similar terms are intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common and accepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the subject matter of this disclosure pertains. It should be understood by those of skill in the art who review this disclosure that these terms are intended to allow a description of certain features described without restricting the scope of these features to the precise numerical ranges provided.

Accordingly, these terms should be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial or inconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matter described and are considered to be within the scope of the disclosure.

It should be noted that the term "exemplary" as used herein to describe various embodiments is intended to indicate that such embodiments are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiments (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term "coupled" means the joining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary or moveable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two members or the two members and any additional intermediate members being attached to one another. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature.

It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure. It is recognized that features of the disclosed embodiments can be incorporated into other disclosed embodiments.

It is important to note that the constructions and arrangements of spring systems or the components thereof as shown in the various exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter disclosed. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

All literature and similar material cited in this application, including, but not limited to, patents, patent applications, articles, books, treatises, and web pages, regardless of the format of such literature and similar materials, are expressly

incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that one or more of the incorporated literature and similar materials differs from or contradicts this application, including but not limited to defined terms, term usage, describes techniques, or the like, this application controls.

While various inventive embodiments 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 inventive embodiments 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 inventive 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 inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments 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 inventive scope of the present disclosure. Also, the technology described herein may be embodied as a method, of which at least one example has been provided. The acts performed as part of the method may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments may be constructed in which acts are performed in an order different than illustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, even though shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments. Implementations of the subject matter and the operations described in this specification can be implemented by digital electronic circuitry, or via computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.

A computer storage medium can be, or be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).

The operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer- readable storage devices or received from other sources.

The term "data processing apparatus" encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross- platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., a FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

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

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

The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

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 "Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A and/or B") can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc. In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of and "consisting essentially of shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements unless stated to that effect. It should be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. All embodiments that come within the spirit and scope of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed.