Disclosure of Invention
The invention aims to provide a board protection method, a system and a device, and the overvoltage protection of a board card is strengthened when the power supply voltage of the board card on a server mainboard is higher, so that the safety and the reliability of the server mainboard are improved.
In order to solve the technical problem, the invention provides a board protection method, which comprises the following steps:
grading the power supply voltage of the board cards in advance, and setting board card overvoltage protection strategies one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades; the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree of the board card by a board card overvoltage protection strategy set under the power supply voltage at the higher level is;
acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card, and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade division result corresponding to the board card;
and performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
Preferably, the process of grading the power supply voltage of the board card includes:
if the reference power supply voltage + the first overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a first grade;
if the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a second grade;
if the power supply voltage of the board card is larger than the reference power supply voltage of the board card and a third overvoltage value, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a third grade; wherein the first overpressure value is less than the second overpressure value and less than the third overpressure value.
Preferably, a voltage division circuit is arranged on a power supply circuit of the board card; the voltage dividing circuit includes: the input end of the channel selection circuit is connected with a power supply of the board card; a switch connected to a first channel output of the channel selection circuit; the first voltage division device is connected with the second channel output end of the channel selection circuit; the second voltage divider is connected with the output end of the third channel of the channel selection circuit; wherein the voltage dividing capability of the second voltage dividing device is greater than that of the first voltage dividing device;
correspondingly, the setting process of the board card overvoltage protection strategy under the power supply voltages of different grades comprises the following steps:
if the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage of the board card plus a first overvoltage value, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate the first channel of the channel selection circuit so that the power supply normally supplies power to the board card; wherein the switch is in a connected state by default;
if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the first grade, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate a second channel of the board card so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of the first partial pressure device;
if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the second level, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate a third channel of the channel selection circuit so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of the second partial pressure device;
and if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the third level, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate the first channel of the board card, and controlling the switch to be switched off so that the power supply stops supplying power to the board card.
Preferably, the board card protection method further includes:
acquiring the actual power supply current of the board card, and judging whether the actual power supply current is greater than a preset current threshold value;
and if so, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate the first channel of the channel selection circuit, and controlling the switch to be switched off so as to enable the power supply to stop supplying power to the board card.
Preferably, the switch is in particular an electronic switch Efuse.
Preferably, the board card protection method further includes:
setting board card overvoltage alarm strategies one by one under power supply voltages of different grades in advance; the alarm level of the board card overvoltage alarm strategy set under the higher-level power supply voltage is higher;
and after the target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage is determined, carrying out board overvoltage alarm according to a board overvoltage alarm strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
Preferably, the board card protection method further includes:
before the board card is ready to be powered on every time, loading an overvoltage alarm state recording file for storing each overvoltage alarm state of the board card;
judging whether the board card alarm level recorded last in the overvoltage alarm state recording file is the board card alarm level corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third level;
if the alarm level of the board card corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third grade is the alarm level of the board card corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third grade, continuously detecting whether the output voltages of the power supply source of the board card are all smaller than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card within preset time;
if the voltage values are less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, allowing the power supply to supply power to the board card;
if the output voltage which is not less than the reference power supply voltage of the board card plus the third overvoltage value exists, the power supply is not allowed to supply power to the board card;
and if the card alarm level is not the card alarm level corresponding to the third-level power supply voltage, allowing the power supply to supply power to the card.
In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention further provides a board protection system, including:
the strategy presetting module is used for carrying out grading division on the power supply voltage of the board cards in advance and setting board card overvoltage protection strategies one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades; the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree of the board card by a board card overvoltage protection strategy set under the power supply voltage at the higher level is;
the grade determining module is used for acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade dividing result corresponding to the board card;
and the overvoltage protection module is used for performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to the board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
Preferably, the process of grading the power supply voltage of the board card includes:
if the reference power supply voltage + the first overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a first grade;
if the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a second grade;
if the power supply voltage of the board card is larger than the reference power supply voltage of the board card and a third overvoltage value, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a third grade; wherein the first overpressure value is less than the second overpressure value and less than the third overpressure value.
In order to solve the above technical problem, the present invention further provides a board protection device, including:
a memory for storing a computer program;
and the processor is used for realizing the steps of any board protection method when the computer program is executed.
The invention provides a board protection method, which is characterized in that the power supply voltage of a board is classified in advance, and board overvoltage protection strategies are set one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades; the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree of the board card by the board card overvoltage protection strategy set under the power supply voltage at the higher level is; acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card, and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade division result corresponding to the board card; and performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade. Therefore, the overvoltage protection of the board card is strengthened when the power supply voltage of the board card on the server mainboard is higher, and the safety and the reliability of the server mainboard are improved.
The invention also provides a board protection system and a board protection device, which have the same beneficial effects as the protection method.
Detailed Description
The core of the invention is to provide a board protection method, a system and a device, and consider that the higher the power supply voltage of a board card on a server mainboard is, the higher the overvoltage risk of the board card is, so that the application strengthens the overvoltage protection of the board card when the power supply voltage of the board card is higher, thereby improving the safety and the reliability of the server mainboard.
In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are some, but not all, embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Referring to fig. 1, fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a board protection method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The board protection method comprises the following steps:
step S1: the power supply voltage of the board card is classified in advance, and the board card overvoltage protection strategies are set one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades.
Specifically, for any board card (including a low-current board card) on the server motherboard, the power supply voltage of the board card is classified in advance, and it should be noted that the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the lower the power supply voltage of the board card at the lower level is.
Moreover, this application still sets up integrated circuit board overvoltage protection strategy one by one under the power supply voltage of different grades in advance, namely under the power supply voltage of each grade, all sets up an integrated circuit board overvoltage protection strategy, can understand that, the higher the power supply voltage of integrated circuit board, the higher the overvoltage risk of integrated circuit board is, so the integrated circuit board overvoltage protection strategy that sets up under the power supply voltage of higher grade should be stronger to the overvoltage protection degree of integrated circuit board, namely when the power supply voltage of integrated circuit board is higher, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree to the integrated circuit board to avoid the integrated circuit board excessive pressure.
Step S2: and acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card, and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade division result corresponding to the board card.
Specifically, the actual power supply voltage of the board card is obtained, and then the target voltage level corresponding to the actual power supply voltage of the board card is determined according to the power supply voltage level division result corresponding to the board card, so that the board card overvoltage protection strategy required under the actual power supply voltage of the board card is determined subsequently.
Step S3: and performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
Specifically, after a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage of the board card is determined, a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade is determined according to the corresponding relation between the power supply voltage grade of the board card and the board card overvoltage protection strategy, and then the board card is subjected to overvoltage protection according to the board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
The invention provides a board protection method, which is characterized in that the power supply voltage of a board is classified in advance, and board overvoltage protection strategies are set one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades; the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree of the board card by the board card overvoltage protection strategy set under the power supply voltage at the higher level is; acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card, and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade division result corresponding to the board card; and performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade. Therefore, the overvoltage protection of the board card is strengthened when the power supply voltage of the board card on the server mainboard is higher, and the safety and the reliability of the server mainboard are improved.
On the basis of the above-described embodiment:
as an optional embodiment, the process of grading the power supply voltage of the board card includes:
if the reference power supply voltage + the first overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a first grade;
if the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a second grade;
if the power supply voltage of the board card is larger than the reference power supply voltage of the board card and a third overvoltage value, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a third grade; wherein the first overpressure value is less than the second overpressure value and less than the third overpressure value.
Specifically, this application sets up a benchmark supply voltage as the reference for the integrated circuit board, if the supply voltage of integrated circuit board is greater than the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board more, think that the overvoltage risk of integrated circuit board is big, specifically will (the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board + first overvoltage value) < supply voltage of integrated circuit board < (the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board + second overvoltage value) supply voltage divide into first grade, will (the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board + second overvoltage value) < supply voltage of integrated circuit board < (the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board + third overvoltage value) supply voltage divide into the second grade, will supply voltage of integrated circuit board > (the benchmark supply voltage of integrated circuit board + third overvoltage value) supply voltage divide into the third grade, the grade is ordered: first grade < second grade < third grade.
As an optional embodiment, a voltage dividing circuit is arranged on a power supply line of the board card; the voltage dividing circuit includes: the input end of the channel selection circuit is connected with a power supply of the board card; a switch connected to a first channel output terminal of the channel selection circuit; the first voltage divider is connected with the second channel output end of the channel selection circuit; the second voltage divider is connected with the output end of the third channel of the channel selection circuit; wherein, the voltage dividing capability of the second voltage dividing device is larger than that of the first voltage dividing device;
correspondingly, the setting process of the board card overvoltage protection strategy under the power supply voltages of different grades comprises the following steps:
if the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage of the board card plus the first overvoltage value, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the first channel of the channel selection circuit, so that the power supply normally supplies power to the board card; wherein the switch is in a connected state by default;
if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the first grade, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate a second channel of the board card so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of the first partial pressure device;
if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the second level, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate a third channel of the channel selection circuit so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of the second partial pressure device;
and if the power supply voltage of the board card belongs to the third level, controlling the channel selection circuit to gate the first channel of the board card and controlling the switch to be switched off so that the power supply stops supplying power to the board card.
Specifically, this application is equipped with bleeder circuit on the power supply line of integrated circuit board, and bleeder circuit includes channel selection circuit, switch, first bleeder component and second bleeder component, and its theory of operation is:
the output voltage of the power supply of the board card is supplied to the channel selection circuit, and the channel selection circuit supplies the output voltage of the power supply to the back-end circuit through a channel gated by the channel selection circuit (it should be noted that the channel selection circuit can only gate one channel at a time). The output end of the first channel of the channel selection circuit is connected with one end of the switch, and the other end of the switch is connected with the power end of the board card, namely when the first channel of the channel selection circuit is gated, if the switch is in a connected state, the output voltage of the power supply can be normally supplied to the power end of the board card; if the switch is in an off state, the output voltage of the power supply can not be supplied to the power end of the board card, and the board card is powered off. The second channel output end of the channel selection circuit is connected with one end of the first voltage division device, the other end of the first voltage division device is connected with the power end of the board card, namely when the second channel of the channel selection circuit is gated, the output voltage of the power supply is divided by the first voltage division device and then supplied to the power end of the board card, and the purpose is to reduce the power supply voltage supplied to the board card by the power supply. The output end of the third channel of the channel selection circuit is connected with one end of the second voltage divider, and the other end of the second voltage divider is connected with the power supply end of the board card, namely, when the third channel of the channel selection circuit is gated, the output voltage of the power supply is divided by the second voltage divider and then supplied to the power supply end of the board card, so that the power supply voltage supplied to the board card by the power supply is reduced. It should be noted that the voltage dividing capability of the second voltage divider is greater than the voltage dividing capability of the first voltage divider, so that the value of the power supply voltage provided by the power supply reduced by the second voltage divider to the board card is greater than the value of the power supply voltage provided by the power supply reduced by the first voltage divider to the board card.
Based on this, if the power supply voltage of the board card is less than (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the first overvoltage value), the power supply voltage of the board card is considered not to be overvoltage, the output voltage of the power supply is not limited, specifically, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the first channel of the channel selection circuit (the switch is in a connected state by default), and therefore the power supply normally supplies power to the board card. If the power supply voltage of the board card is less than (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the first overvoltage value) < the power supply voltage of the board card < (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the second overvoltage value), the power supply voltage of the board card is considered to be in primary overvoltage, primary overvoltage limitation is carried out on the output voltage of the power supply, and specifically, a channel selection circuit is controlled to gate a second channel of the power supply, so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of a first partial pressure device, and the overvoltage of the board card is avoided. If the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the third overvoltage value) (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the second overvoltage value), the second-stage overvoltage limitation is carried out on the output voltage of the power supply, specifically, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the third through board card channel of the channel selection circuit, so that the power supply supplies power to the board card under the partial pressure of the second partial pressure device, and the overvoltage of the board card is avoided. If the power supply voltage of the board card is higher (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the third overvoltage value), the three-level overvoltage of the power supply voltage of the board card is considered, the output voltage of the power supply source cannot normally supply power to the board card, the power supply line of the board card needs to be disconnected, specifically, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the first channel of the board card, and the switch is controlled to be disconnected, so that the power supply source stops supplying power to the board card, and the problem that the safety of a server mainboard is influenced by the overvoltage of the.
As an optional embodiment, the board card protection method further includes:
acquiring the actual power supply current of the board card, and judging whether the actual power supply current is greater than a preset current threshold value or not;
if so, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the first channel of the channel selection circuit, and the switch is controlled to be switched off, so that the power supply source stops supplying power to the board card.
Further, the method and the device also obtain the actual power supply current of the board card and judge whether the actual power supply current of the board card is larger than a preset current threshold value or not; if the current is not greater than the preset current threshold, the board is determined to have no overcurrent risk, and overcurrent protection is not required to be performed on the board; if the current is greater than the preset current threshold value, the board card is considered to have the overcurrent risk, the channel selection circuit is controlled to gate the first channel of the board card, and the switch is controlled to be switched off, so that the power supply source stops supplying power to the board card, and the problem that the safety of a server mainboard is influenced by the overcurrent of the board card is avoided.
As an alternative embodiment, the switch is embodied as an electronic switch Efuse.
Specifically, the switch of the present application may select the electronic switch Efuse, and the on-off state of the electronic switch Efuse is controlled by controlling the enable end of the electronic switch Efuse.
As an optional embodiment, the board card protection method further includes:
setting board card overvoltage alarm strategies one by one under power supply voltages of different grades in advance; the alarm level of the board card overvoltage alarm strategy set under the higher-level power supply voltage is higher;
and after the target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage is determined, carrying out board overvoltage alarm according to a board overvoltage alarm strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
Further, the integrated circuit board overvoltage alarm strategies are set one by one under the power supply voltages of different levels in advance, namely one integrated circuit board overvoltage alarm strategy is set under each level of power supply voltage, and it can be understood that the higher the power supply voltage of the integrated circuit board is, the higher the overvoltage risk of the integrated circuit board is, the higher the alarm level of the integrated circuit board overvoltage alarm strategy set under the power supply voltage of the higher level is, namely, the higher the power supply voltage of the integrated circuit board is, the higher the alarm measure of the higher level is to give an alarm, so that the integrated circuit board overvoltage of a user is remarkably reminded, and the user can know the specific overvoltage level of the integrated circuit board.
Based on the method and the device, after the target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage of the board card is determined, the board card overvoltage alarm strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade is determined according to the corresponding relation between the power supply voltage grade of the board card and the board card overvoltage alarm strategy, and then the board card overvoltage alarm is carried out according to the board card overvoltage alarm strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
As an optional embodiment, the board card protection method further includes:
before the board card is ready to be powered on every time, loading an overvoltage alarm state recording file for storing each overvoltage alarm state of the board card;
judging whether the board card alarm level recorded last in the overvoltage alarm state recording file is the board card alarm level corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third level;
if the alarm level of the board card is the alarm level of the board card corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third grade, continuously detecting whether the output voltage of the power supply of the board card is smaller than the reference power supply voltage + a third overvoltage value of the board card within preset time;
if the voltage values are less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, allowing the power supply to supply power to the board card;
if the output voltage is not less than the reference power supply voltage of the board card plus the third overvoltage value, the power supply is not allowed to supply power to the board card;
and if the card alarm level is not the card alarm level corresponding to the third-level power supply voltage, allowing the power supply to supply power to the card.
Further, an overvoltage alarm state recording file used for storing each overvoltage alarm state of the board card is created for the board card in advance, and the purpose is to record the overvoltage alarm state of the board card into the overvoltage alarm state recording file while performing board card overvoltage alarm according to a board card overvoltage alarm strategy corresponding to a target voltage grade.
Considering that after the board card is powered off due to three-level overvoltage of the power supply voltage, if the power supply of the board card is not maintained or replaced, the board card is directly powered on again, the board card can be normally powered on at the initial stage of power on, but the power supply fault of the power supply reappears after short-time power supply, so that the normal use of the board card is influenced, an overvoltage alarm state recording file is loaded before the board card is ready to be powered on each time, the overvoltage alarm state of the board card recorded last time in the overvoltage alarm state recording file is read, the alarm level corresponding to the overvoltage alarm state of the board card recorded last time is determined, then whether the alarm level corresponding to the overvoltage alarm state of the board card recorded last time is the board card alarm level corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third level is judged, and if the alarm level corresponding to the power supply voltage of the third level is judged, if the last power failure of the board card is caused by three-level overvoltage of the power supply voltage, continuously detecting whether the output voltages of the power supply source of the board card are all smaller than (the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card) within the preset time; if the voltage values are less than (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the third overvoltage value), the power supply fault of the power supply of the board card is considered to be eliminated, and the power supply is allowed to supply power to the board card; if the output voltage is not less than (the reference power supply voltage of the board card + the third overvoltage value), the power supply fault of the power supply of the board card is not eliminated, and the power supply is not allowed to supply power to the board card; if the alarm level of the board card corresponding to the third-level power supply voltage is not the alarm level of the board card corresponding to the third-level power supply voltage, it is indicated that the last power failure of the board card is not caused by three-level overvoltage of the power supply voltage, and the power supply fault recurrence condition of the power supply does not need to be considered, so that the power supply is allowed to supply power to the board card.
Referring to fig. 2, fig. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a board protection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
This integrated circuit board protection system includes:
the strategy presetting module 1 is used for carrying out grading division on the power supply voltage of the board cards in advance and setting board card overvoltage protection strategies one by one under the power supply voltages of different grades; the higher the power supply voltage of the board card at the higher level is, the stronger the overvoltage protection degree of the board card by the board card overvoltage protection strategy set under the power supply voltage at the higher level is;
the grade determining module 2 is used for acquiring the actual power supply voltage of the board card and determining a target voltage grade corresponding to the actual power supply voltage according to the power supply voltage grade division result corresponding to the board card;
and the overvoltage protection module 3 is used for performing overvoltage protection on the board card according to a board card overvoltage protection strategy corresponding to the target voltage grade.
As an optional embodiment, the process of grading the power supply voltage of the board card includes:
if the reference power supply voltage + the first overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a first grade;
if the reference power supply voltage + the second overvoltage value of the board card is less than the power supply voltage of the board card is less than the reference power supply voltage + the third overvoltage value of the board card, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a second grade;
if the power supply voltage of the board card is larger than the reference power supply voltage of the board card and a third overvoltage value, dividing the power supply voltage of the board card into a third grade; wherein the first overpressure value is less than the second overpressure value and less than the third overpressure value.
For introduction of the board protection system provided in the present application, reference is made to the above embodiment of the board protection method, which is not described herein again.
The application also provides a board protection device, include:
a memory for storing a computer program;
and the processor is used for realizing the steps of any board protection method when executing the computer program.
For introduction of the board protection device provided in the present application, reference is made to the above embodiment of the board protection method, which is not described herein again.
It is further noted that, in the present specification, relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. Also, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising an … …" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.
The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.