Disclosure of Invention
In order to overcome the defects of the prior art, the invention provides the hidden intelligent sampling toilet which has the automatic sampling and preserving capabilities, provides an analysis sample for the analysis of the health state of a user, and improves the intelligent degree of the toilet.
The aim of the invention is achieved by the following technical scheme:
a concealed intelligent sampling toilet, comprising:
the toilet body is provided with a mounting cavity, and the mounting cavity is provided with a first opening;
the sample collecting device is arranged in the mounting cavity and is provided with a sample collecting carrier for carrying excrement, and the sample collecting carrier can move into and out of the first opening;
and the sampling device is used for collecting and storing the excrement sample from the sample collecting carrier.
As an improvement of the technical scheme, the sample collecting device comprises a sample collecting carrier and a first driving component, the toilet body is provided with a sample collecting station and a sampling station, the sample collecting carrier is slidably kept between the sample collecting station and the sampling station, and the first driving component is used for driving the sample collecting carrier to slide along a preset path.
As a further improvement of the above technical solution, the sample collection device includes a second driving assembly, the sample collection carrier is held on the first driving assembly in a reversible manner, and the second driving assembly is used for driving the sample collection carrier to turn over.
As a further improvement of the above technical solution, the sampling device includes:
the sampling tube is used for collecting and storing the excrement;
the bearing seat is provided with at least one storage bin which is used for bearing the sampling tube;
and the sampling driving unit is used for taking and placing the sampling tube from the bearing seat and driving the sampling tube to collect the excrement.
As a further improvement of the above technical solution, the mounting cavity has a openable second opening, the bearing seat is rotatably held in the mounting cavity and opposite to the second opening, and the storage bins are distributed along the rotation circumference of the bearing seat.
As a further improvement of the technical scheme, the sampling driving unit comprises a circular motion mechanism and a linear motion mechanism, wherein the linear motion mechanism is arranged on the circular motion mechanism, and a clamp holder is arranged on the linear motion mechanism and used for clamping the sampling tube.
As a further improvement of the technical scheme, the sampling tube comprises a sampler body, a solid phase sampling group and/or a liquid phase sampling group are arranged on the sampler body, the solid phase sampling group comprises a grabbing head and a first accommodating bin, and the liquid phase sampling group comprises a liquid suction head and a second accommodating bin.
As a further improvement of the above technical solution, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet further comprises a flushing unit for flushing the sample collecting carrier and flushing out the excrement.
As a further improvement of the technical scheme, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet further comprises a purifying unit for disinfecting and drying the sample collecting carrier.
As a further improvement of the above technical solution, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet further includes a positioning unit, configured to acquire and output a position parameter of the sample collection carrier.
The beneficial effects of the invention are as follows:
through setting up the installation cavity on the stool pot body, set up collection appearance device and sampling device in the installation cavity, collection appearance device business turn over in the installation cavity is scalable and realize collection appearance, and sampling device is from collection appearance carrier of collection appearance device quantitative sampling and save, has hidden automatic sampling's characteristic, realizes pollution-free and accurate quantitative sampling and save, has improved the intelligent degree of stool pot effectively.
In order to make the above objects, features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, preferred embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.
Detailed Description
In order to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a more complete description of the hidden intelligent sampling toilet will now be provided with reference to the associated drawings. A preferred embodiment of a hidden intelligent sampling toilet is shown in the drawings. However, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, the purpose of these embodiments is to provide a more thorough and complete disclosure of a concealed intelligent sampling toilet.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening elements present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and the like are used herein for illustrative purposes only.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The terminology used herein in the description of the concealed intelligent sampling toilet is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The term "and/or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Example 1
Referring to fig. 1-2 in combination, the present embodiment discloses a hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000, where the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 includes a toilet body 0100, a sample collecting device 0200 and a sampling device 0300, and uses a hidden structure to realize automatic sampling and storage capability, so as to provide an analysis sample for the analysis of the health status of a user. The following describes a specific configuration of the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000.
The toilet body 0100 has a mounting cavity 0110, the mounting cavity 0110 having a first opening 0111. The toilet body 0100 is installed in a building to provide drainage hardware for the user. It should be appreciated that the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 may take the form of a toilet or a squatting pan, depending on the manner in which the toilet is being used. Correspondingly, the toilet body 0100 also has a toilet or squatting pan structure.
Regardless of the form of the toilet, the toilet body 0100 has an open cavity 0120 for receiving the user's fecal matter. The mounting cavity 0110 is independent of the open cavity 0120 and communicates with the open cavity 0120 through the first opening 0111. Wherein, the first opening 0111 is formed on the sidewall of the opening cavity 0120. Illustratively, the first opening 0111 is provided with a openable cover plate, so as to realize the sealing and opening of the mounting cavity 0110.
Referring to fig. 3-4 in combination, the sample collection device 0200 is disposed in the mounting cavity 0110 and has a sample collection carrier 0210 for carrying excrement. The sample carrier 0210 can move into and out of the first opening 0111 to form a hidden movable structure. It should be understood that the sample collection carrier 0210 belongs to a transport carrier between the sample collection link and the sampling link.
Exemplarily, the toilet body 0100 is provided with a sample collecting station and a sampling station. The sample collecting station is arranged in the opening cavity 0120, and during the excretion process of a user, the sample collecting carrier 0210 enters the sample collecting station through the first opening 0111 to receive the excreta which naturally falls down. The sample collection carrier 0210 is slidably held between the sample collection station and the sampling station, and conveys the received excrement to the sampling station.
The sample carrier 0210 may be a cup, a spoon, a bowl, or the like, and may be used to hold excrement in an impact state. Further, the sample collection carrier 0210 is provided with a separable test paper consumable for carrying excrement at one time, so that the cleanness of the excrement is ensured, the analysis precision is ensured, and meanwhile, the pollution to the sample collection carrier 0210 is avoided, and the cleaning difficulty is reduced. Further, the sample collection carrier 0210 has a leak hole structure, so that the cleaning efficiency and the drying speed are ensured.
The sampling device 0300 is used for realizing quantitative sampling and preservation of excrement and should comprise a sampling end and a preservation bin. The sampling end is in a variety of forms, such as a jaw, pipette, etc. Illustratively, a preservative is preset in the storage bin to prevent spoilage of the fecal matter.
Illustratively, at the sampling station, the sampling device 0300 quantitatively collects and stores a fecal sample from the sample collection carrier 0210 as required for analysis. Exemplarily, the sampling device 0300 and the sampling station are both arranged in the installation cavity 0110, so that a hidden sampling process is realized, pollution is avoided, and the environment is kept clean.
Preferably, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 further comprises a flushing unit for flushing the sample collection carrier 0210 and flushing out fecal matter. Illustratively, a flushing end is provided on one side of the mounting cavity 0110, which outputs clean water with a certain water pressure to clean the sample collection carrier 0210 in an impact manner. The clean water enters the open cavity 0120 through the first opening 0111 to flush the fecal matter out to the sewer line.
Preferably, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 further comprises a purifying unit for sterilizing and drying the sample collection carrier 0210. Illustratively, the decontamination unit includes an ultraviolet generator for emitting ultraviolet light to effect sterilization. Illustratively, the water purification unit includes a heater (e.g., an infrared heating tube) for creating a high temperature to achieve rapid disinfection and drying.
Preferably, the hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 further comprises a positioning unit, which is used for acquiring and outputting the position parameters of the sample carrier 0210. The positioning unit comprises a grating ruler and a reading head, which are respectively arranged on the sample collection carrier 0210 and the toilet body 0100, so that reliable and rapid positioning control is realized.
The positioning unit comprises a vision camera and a controller, wherein the vision camera is used for capturing an image of the sample carrier 0210, outputting image information to the controller in a form of signals for transmission, and calculating position coordinate parameters of the sample carrier 0210 according to the image information by the controller. The controller can be realized in the forms of an image processing chip, a microprocessor, an arithmetic circuit and the like. The positioning unit comprises a travel switch for limiting the travel of the sample collection carrier 0210, so that overshoot is avoided.
Example 2
On the basis of embodiment 1, this embodiment discloses a hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 with an optimized structure. The difference is in the specific construction of the sample collection device 0200. Only the differences will be described in detail, and the remainder of the differences are described in example 1, and are not repeated here.
Referring to fig. 3 to 4 in combination, the sample collection device 0200 includes a sample collection carrier 0210 and a first driving component 0220, wherein the first driving component 0220 is used for driving the sample collection carrier 0210 to slide along a preset path, so that the sample collection carrier 0210 is slidingly kept between a sample collection station and a sampling station. The first drive assembly 0220 is in numerous forms, as exemplified below by just a few examples.
Exemplarily, the first driving assembly 0220 includes a swing arm 0221 and a first driving source 0222. One end of the swing arm 0221 is hinged on the device body, and the other end is connected with the sample collection carrier 0210. The first driving source 0222 is used for driving the swing arm 0221 to swing circumferentially around the hinged end of the swing arm 0221, so that the sample collection carrier 0210 is driven to change in position. It can be seen that the predetermined path of the sample carrier 0210 is a circular arc path. The first driving source 0222 may be a rotary electric machine, a hydraulic motor, or the like.
In another example, the first drive unit includes a moving rail and a slider slidably retained on the moving rail. The moving guide rail is arranged on the device body, and the sliding body is connected with the sample collection carrier 0210. Further, the sliding body is connected with a second driving source for driving the sliding body to slide. The second driving source can be a linear motor, an electric push rod, a rotary motor and the like. It should be understood that when the second driving source adopts a circumferential driving method such as a rotary motor, the second driving source and the sliding body may be connected by a ball screw, a rack-and-pinion mechanism, or the like.
Preferably, the sample carrier 0210 is held on the first drive assembly 0220 in a reversible manner, so that excrement, test paper consumable and the like can be separated from the sample carrier 0210 and fall into the open cavity 0120 for flushing. Illustratively, the sample carrier 0210 is hinged at one end to the first drive unit. Exemplary, sample collection device 0200 comprises a second drive assembly 0230, second drive assembly 0230 for driving sample collection carrier 0210 to flip. The second driving assembly 0230 is in a plurality of forms, only a few examples.
The second driving assembly 0230 includes a third driving source for driving the sample carrier 0210 to swing the sample carrier 0210 circumferentially around the hinge end of the sample carrier 0210 and the first driving unit, so as to realize the turning and resetting of the sample carrier 0210.
Illustratively, the second drive assembly 0230 includes a normally closed relay. The normally closed relay is kept closed when not energized, so that the sample collection carrier 0210 is horizontally kept on the first driving component 0220, and the excrement is carried. The normally closed relay keeps to be disconnected when being electrified, so that the sample collection carrier 0210 rotates around the hinged end under the action of dead weight, and quick overturning is realized. And the normally closed relay is recovered to be closed after being powered off again, so that the sample collection carrier 0210 is reset.
Exemplary, sample collection device 0200 comprises a waterproof housing 0240. The sample collection carrier 0210, the first driving component 0220 and the second driving component 0230 are all arranged inside the waterproof casing 0240, and have good waterproof performance. The waterproof housing 0240 has a detachable structure, and has an opening portion corresponding to the first opening 0111.
Example 3
On the basis of embodiment 1 or 2, this embodiment discloses a hidden intelligent sampling toilet 1000 with an optimized structure. The difference is in the specific configuration of the sampling device 0300. Only the differences will be described in detail, and the remainder of the differences are described in example 1, and are not repeated here. Referring to fig. 5 to 6 in combination, in the present embodiment, the sampling device 0300 includes a bearing seat 0310, a sampling driving unit 0320 and a sampling tube 0330, which form an integrated structure for sampling and storing.
The bearing seat 0310 is provided with at least one storage bin 0311, and the storage bin 0311 is used for bearing sampling pipes 0330, so that the bearing seat 0310 has a centralized storage function, and the sampling efficiency is improved. Illustratively, the receptacles 0311 have a one-to-one correspondence with the sampling tubes 0330, forming mutually independent receiving spaces that snugly receive the sampling tubes 0330. Illustratively, different receptacles 0311 may have different profiles, corresponding to different types of sampling tubes 0330, providing multiple compound applications.
Wherein the bearing seat 0310 has a motion capability to realize the switching between different sampling tubes 0330 thereon. The motion of the bearing seat 0310 is numerous, namely, chain transmission, ring transmission and the like. Preferably, the carrying seats 0310 are capable of a circular movement, the stowage bins 0311 being distributed along the circumference of rotation of the carrying seats 0310. Illustratively, the bearing housing 0310 has a disk shape, which is driven to rotate by a driving motor. Illustratively, the rotational axis of the bearing seat 0310 coincides with the vertical direction. Exemplarily, the plurality of bins 0311 are uniformly distributed along the circumference of the bearing seat 0310, and the positions of the different bins 0311 are switched along with the rotation of the bearing seat 0310, so that the corresponding bins 0311 enter the corresponding picking and placing stations.
Illustratively, the mounting cavity 0110 has a second opening 0112 that can be opened and closed, and the carrying seat 0310 is rotatably held in the mounting cavity 0110 and is opposite to the second opening 0112, and the storage bins 0311 are distributed along the rotation circumference of the carrying seat 0310. The bearing seat 0310 rotationally realizes the position switching between different storage bins 0311, so that the sampling tube 0330 which completes the sampling enters the second opening 0112, so that the user can perform the blanking.
Further, the carrying base 0310 includes a fixed arm 0312 disposed corresponding to the storage compartment 0311. The fixed arm 0312 is rotatably and openably held on the carrying base 0310, so that a user can quickly take and place the sampling tube 0330.
The sampling driving unit 0320 is used for taking and placing the sampling tube 0330 from the bearing seat 0310 and driving the sampling tube 0330 to collect excrement. Further, the sampling driving unit 0320 has both a clamping function and a movement function. Wherein, the clamping function can be realized by clamping jaw, sleeve, adsorption, etc., so that the sampling tube 0330 is firmly held on the sampling driving unit 0320. The motion function can be realized by circular motion, linear motion and other motion modes or compound motion of a plurality of the motion modes.
The sampling driving unit 0320 obtains the corresponding sampling tube 0330 from the carrier 0310, and then moves the sampling tube 0330 to the area where the sampling target is located, so as to drive the sampling tube 0330 to approach the sampling target to perform the sampling operation. After the collection is completed, the sampling driving unit 0320 sends the sampling tube 0330 back to the bearing seat 0310, so that the sampling tube 0330 enters the corresponding storage bin 0311, and a sampling process is finished.
The sampling driving unit 0320 includes a circular motion mechanism 0321 and a linear motion mechanism 0322. Wherein, the linear motion mechanism 0322 is arranged on the circular motion mechanism 0321, and can realize circular motion along with the circular motion mechanism 0321; the linear motion mechanism 0322 is provided with a gripper 0323, and the gripper 0323 is used for gripping the sampling tube 0330 and can realize linear motion along with the linear motion mechanism 0322.
It can be seen that the gripper 0323 can realize a combined circular motion and linear motion. The clamping function of the clamp 0323 can be realized by clamping jaw, sleeve, pressure adsorption, magnetic adsorption and the like, so as to rapidly take and place the sampling tube 0330. Under the combined motion mode, the sampling tube 0330 can easily reach any region, and the acquisition of any sampling target is realized. It is further noted that the compound motion further drives the sampling tube 0330 to approach the sampling target, creating the required force or pressure differential, thereby achieving rapid collection of solids or liquids.
Exemplarily, the circular motion mechanism 0321 includes a mounting body 0321a and a fourth driving source 0321b disposed on the mounting body 0321 a. The linear motion mechanism 0322 is rotatably retained on the mounting body 0321a, and the fourth driving source 0321b is used for driving the linear motion mechanism 0322 to rotate. The fourth driving source 0321b has various forms including a servo motor, a stepping motor, a hydraulic motor, and the like.
The linear motion mechanism 0322 includes a swing arm body 0322a and a fifth driving source 0322b disposed on the swing arm body 0322 a. The swing arm body 0322a is disposed on the circular motion mechanism 0321 and is driven to rotate by the fourth driving source 0321b. The fifth driving source 0322b is used to drive the gripper 0323 to move linearly, so that the gripper 0323 is held on the swing arm body 0322a in a linearly movable manner. The fifth driving source 0322b has various forms including a servo motor, a stepping motor, a hydraulic motor, and the like.
Illustratively, the swing arm body 0322a is provided with a driving wheel set and a flexible member 0322e stretched on the driving wheel set. Wherein, the transmission wheel set at least comprises a first transmission wheel 0322c and a second transmission wheel 0322d, and the flexible piece 0322e is sequentially tensioned on the first transmission wheel 0322c and the second transmission wheel 0322d to form a flexible transmission relation.
Wherein, the flexible transmission relation is a common mechanical transmission and is generally composed of two or more transmission wheels and a flexible member 0322e, and the flexible member 0322e is used for transmitting motion and power between the transmission wheels. The flexible drive mainly comprises belt drive, chain drive and rope drive according to the type of the flexible member 0322e, wherein the driving wheels are respectively a belt wheel, a chain wheel and a rope wheel, and the flexible member 0322e is respectively a driving belt, a driving chain and a driving rope. In other words, the first and second drive wheels 0322c and 0322d comprise one of a sprocket, a pulley, or a sheave.
The gripper 0323 is connected with the flexible member 0322e, and the fifth driving source 0322b is used for driving the first driving wheel 0322c to rotate. The first driving wheel 0322c drives the flexible piece 0322e and the second driving wheel 0322d to move, and the movement transmission is realized by flexible transmission. With the movement of the flexible member 0322e, the gripper 0323 can realize linear movement.
Illustratively, the holder 0323 includes an air pump 0323a in air communication with an adsorption end 0323b, the adsorption end 0323b for adsorbing the sampling tube 0330. That is, the suction end 0323b forms a negative pressure by the air pump 0323a, so that the sampling tube 0330 is sucked to the suction end 0323b. Further, the adsorption end 0323b is provided with a tube end sleeve 0323c which is clamped at the end of the sampling tube 0330 in a sleeved mode, so that the motion constraint of the sampling tube 0330 is formed. It should be understood that the air pump 0323a is variously installed, for example, fixedly connected to the suction end 0323b (disposed on the linear motion mechanism 0322), having a relative motion to the suction end 0323b (disposed outside the linear motion mechanism 0322), and the like.
The sampling tube 0330 is used for collecting and storing excrement, and corresponds to solid matters (such as excrement) and liquid matters (such as urine), and the sampling tube 0330 has at least one phase sample sampling and storing capacity. Illustratively, the sampling tube 0330 is a solid sample tube and is provided with a receiving compartment for collecting and holding solid material. Illustratively, the sampling tube 0330 is a liquid sampling tube and is provided with a receiving compartment for collecting and preserving liquid. Illustratively, the sampling tube 0330 is a composite sampling tube that can collect both solids and liquids. Referring to fig. 7 to 8 in combination, the sampling tube 0330 is exemplarily provided with a first accommodating chamber 0332c for storing solid matters and a second accommodating chamber 0333a for storing liquid matters, and the first accommodating chamber 0332c and the second accommodating chamber 0333a are independent from each other to realize partition storage.
Illustratively, the sampling tube 0330 includes a sampler body 0331 with at least one of a solid phase sampling set 0332 and a liquid phase sampling set 0333 disposed on the sampler body 0331. The solid phase sampling group 0332 comprises a grabbing head 0332a and a first accommodating bin 0332c, wherein the grabbing head 0332a is used for grabbing solid matters, and the first accommodating bin 0332c is used for storing solid standard samples; the liquid phase sampling group 0333 includes a liquid suction head 0333c and a second accommodating bin 0333a, the liquid suction head 0333c is used for sucking liquid substances, and the second accommodating bin 0333a is used for storing liquid standard samples.
Illustratively, the sampling tube 0330 has a composite structure, enabling integrated sampling and preservation of solids and liquids. The grabbing head 0332a is slidably propped against the sampler body 0331, one end of the grabbing head 0332a far away from the sampler body 0331 is provided with an opening cavity 0120, the liquid sucking head 0333c is driven by the grabbing head 0332a to slidably enable a negative pressure cavity to be formed in the second accommodating bin 0333a, and two ends of the liquid sucking head 0333c are respectively communicated with the liquid and the negative pressure cavity.
Wherein, the sampler body 0331 is used for installing a solid phase sampling group 0332 and a liquid phase sampling group 0333. Exemplarily, the sampler body 0331 includes a first body 0331a, a second body 0331b, and a third body 0331c. The grabbing head 0332a, the liquid absorbing head 0333c and the second accommodating bin 0333a are all arranged on the first body 0331a to form an integrated structure. The second body 0331b is disposed at one end of the second accommodating chamber 0333a far away from the first body 0331a, and is in sleeved connection with the tube end sleeve 0323c, so that the gripper 0323 can conveniently grip and take and place.
The third body 0331c is fixed in the storage compartment 0311, and has a cylindrical structure, and surrounds the first body 0331a to form a first accommodating compartment 0332c. The first body 0331a can be separated from or jointed with the third body 0331c along with the movement of the clamp 0323, so as to realize the separation sampling or joint preservation of the sampling tube 0330.
Further, a first bin cover 0331e is provided on a side of the first body 0331a close to the third body 0331c. The first bin cover 0331e and the first body 0331a have separable structures, meanwhile, the first bin cover 0331e and the third body 0331c further surround the first accommodating bin 0332c, separation of the first accommodating bin 0332c and the second accommodating bin 0333a is realized, and solid objects and liquid objects can be conveniently and respectively inspected.
Illustratively, the pipette head 0333c is disposed on the grasping head 0332a and moves with the grasping head 0332 a. The liquid suction head 0333c is provided with a hollow cavity penetrating through two ends of the liquid suction head, and openings at two ends are respectively communicated with the liquid and the negative pressure cavity. Wherein the negative pressure cavity may be a partial or full area of the second receiving compartment 0333 a. With the movement of the gripping head 0332a, the suction head 0333c allows a negative pressure chamber to be formed. The air pressure of the negative pressure cavity is smaller than the surface pressure of the liquid, so that negative pressure is formed between the openings at the two ends of the hollow cavity, and the liquid is forced to flow along the hollow part.
The negative pressure chamber is formed in a plurality of ways, to name a few. Illustratively, the second pod 0333a in its original state remains vacuum tight, open ended and closed with a second pod cover 0333 b. The liquid suction head 0333c pierces the second bin cover 0333b in a needle-pricking tube mode, so that the second containing bin 0333a is communicated with the liquid through the hollow cavity, and the second containing bin 0333a integrally forms a negative pressure cavity. By way of additional illustration, the second cartridge cap 0333b is made of an elastic material that self-contracts to close upon piercing. In another example, the liquid suction head 0333c is implemented in a piston rod manner, a negative pressure cavity is formed in the second accommodating bin 0333a in a piston push-pull manner, and two ends of the hollow cavity of the piston rod are opened and communicated with the second accommodating bin 0333a and the liquid.
Illustratively, a stop screw 0331d is disposed on a side of the first body 0331a adjacent to the second body 0331 b. The limit screw sleeve 0331d is used for realizing the fastening and the separation of the second accommodating bin 0333a and the first body 0331a, so that the assembly sampling and the separation and the inspection of the second accommodating bin 0333a are facilitated.
Illustratively, a resilient element 0332b is disposed between the gripping head 0332a and the first body 0331a for achieving a quick return of the gripping head 0332 a. The elastic force of the elastic element 0332b is parallel to the sliding direction of the gripping head 0332a, and an elastic traction effect is formed. The elastic member 0332b is of various types including a return spring and the like.
Any particular values in all examples shown and described herein are to be construed as merely illustrative and not a limitation, and thus other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values.
It should be noted that: like reference numerals and letters denote like items in the following figures, and thus once an item is defined in one figure, no further definition or explanation thereof is necessary in the following figures.
The above examples merely represent a few embodiments of the present invention, which are described in more detail and are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that several variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, which are all within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims.