Digital Camera Patent Abstract
A digital camera includes a viewfinder having a proximity sensor
which is activated whenever a user looks through the viewfinder
in preparation of viewing an object or framed scene. An illuminated
status indicator mounted for viewing within the viewfinder for providing
the user when camera status information is coupled to the proximity
sensor through a microprocessor that controls the illumination level
of the status indicator. The illumination level of the status indicator
is controlled by the microprocessor in response to an auto-exposure
algorithm that measures the brightness level of the object or framed
scene that is being viewed by the user through the viewfinder. Digital Camera Patent Claims
I claim:
1. A digital camera, comprising:
a through the lens viewfinder for enabling a user to directly view
an object seen through a lens;
said viewfinder having a proximity sensor for determining whenever
a user looks through the viewfinder and a status indicator for providing
the user with camera status information;
and a control algorithm responsive to an indication that the user
is looking through the viewfinder for controlling the illumination
of said status indicator.
2. A digital camera according to claim 1, further comprising:
an auto-exposure algorithm for measuring a brightness level of
an object viewed in said viewfinder; and
a microprocessor responsive to said auto-exposure algorithm and
to said control algorithm for causing the status indicator to be
set to a maximum brightness level when said proximity sensor is
not generating a user detection signal and for causing the status
indicator to be set to an adjusted brightness level when said proximity
sensor is generating a user detection signal.
3. A digital camera, comprising:
a proximity device for sensing a viewing orientation of a user;
a status indicator mounted in close proximity to said proximity
device for providing a user with camera status information; and
a microprocessor responsive to said proximity device for causing
said status indicator to be set to a maximum brightness when said
proximity device senses a remote viewing orientation of the user.
4. A digital camera according to claim 3, further comprising:
a viewfinder for permitting a user to frame an object while simultaneously
permitting the user to view camera status information on said status
indicator;
an auto-exposure algorithm for measuring a brightness level of
said object, and
said microprocessor responsive to said auto-exposure algorithm
for causing said status indicator to be set to a desired auto-exposure
algorithm functionally related brightness level when said proximity
device senses the user looking through said viewfinder.
5. A digital camera, comprising:
a viewfinder for permitting a user to frame an object image as
seen through a camera lens;
a status indicator mounted within said viewfinder for providing
the user with camera status information;
a proximity device for sensing if a user is using said viewfinder;
a microprocessor responsive to said proximity device for causing
a control algorithm to be executed to control the illumination level
of said status indicator; and
said control algorithm causing said status indicator to be illuminated
to no greater illumination level than a determined illumination
level of said object image when said proximity device senses that
the user is using said viewfinder.
6. A digital camera, according to claim 5, wherein said control
algorithm further causes said status indicator to be illuminated
to a maximum illumination level when said proximity device senses
that the user is not in close proximity to said viewfinder.
7. A digital camera according to claim 6, wherein said control
algorithm further causes said status indicator to blink on and off
when said microprocessor is processing a captured image for storage
on a removable storage device.
8. A digital camera according to claim 7, wherein said control
algorithm further causes said status indicator to discontinue blinking
when said microprocessor has caused said captured image to be stored
on said removable storage device.
9. A digital camera according to claim 8, wherein said control
algorithm further causes camera to power down after said captured
image has been stored on said removable storage device and said
proximity device senses that the user is not in close proximity
to said viewfinder.
10. A digital camera according to claim 9, wherein said control
algorithm causes said camera to power down after a predetermined
period of time.
11. A method of using a digital camera, comprising:
providing a proximity sensor for determining whenever a user looks
through a viewfinder;
providing a viewfinder status indicator to display camera status
information whenever the user looks through said viewfinder; and
controlling the illumination level of said status indicator in
response to an indication that the user is looking through the viewfinder.
12. A method of using a digital camera according to claim 11, further
comprising:
measuring a brightness level of an object viewed in said viewfinder;
and
causing the status indicator to increase brightness when said proximity
sensor is not active and for causing the status indicator to decrease
brightness when said proximity sensor is active.
13. A method of using a digital camera, comprising:
providing a viewfinder status indicator for permitting a user to
frame an object image as seen through a camera lens while simultaneously
providing the user with camera status information;
providing a proximity device for sensing if a user is in close
proximity to said viewfinder status indicator;
responding to said proximity device for causing a control algorithm
to be executed to control the illumination level of said status
indicator; and
causing said status indicator to be illuminated to no greater illumination
level than a determined illumination level of said object image
when said proximity device senses that the user is in close proximity
to said viewfinder status indicator.
14. A method of using a digital camera according to claim 13, wherein
said status indicator is illuminated to a maximum illumination level
when said proximity device senses that the user is not in close
proximity to said viewfinder status indicator.
15. A method of using a digital camera according to claim 14, wherein
said status indicator blinks on and off when the camera is processing
a captured image for storage on a removable storage device.
16. A method of using a digital camera according to claim 15, wherein
said status indicator discontinues blinking when said captured image
is stored on said removable storage device.
17. A method of using a digital camera according to claim 16, wherein
the camera powers down after said captured image has been stored
on said removable storage device and said proximity device senses
that the user is not in close proximity to said viewfinder status
indicator.
18. A digital camera, comprising:
a viewfinder for helping a user to view an object image, said viewfinder
including a status indicator for providing a user with camera status
information while the user views the object image;
an auto-exposure algorithm for determining a brightness level associated
with the object image; and
a control algorithm responsive to said auto-exposure level for
adjusting the brightness level of said status indicator to an acceptable
viewing level intensity corresponding functionally to a scene brightness
level determined by said auto-exposure algorithm.
19. A digital camera, comprising:
a viewfinder for permitting a user to frame an object image as
seen through a camera lens;
a status indicator mounted in proximity to said viewfinder for
providing the user with camera status information;
a microprocessor for causing a control algorithm to be executed
to control the illumination level of said status indicator; and
said control algorithm causing said status indicator to be illuminated
to a sufficient illumination level to be easily observed by a user
but not a sufficient level to interfere with the viewing of the
object when viewed in said viewfinder.
20. A method of using a digital camera, comprising:
providing a viewfinder status indicator to display camera status
information whenever a user activates the camera; and
controlling the illumination level of said status indicator in
response to an indication that the user is activating a shutter
switch for capturing an object as an image.
21. A method of controlling the illumination level of a status
indicator, comprising:
setting a status indicator illumination level to a current illumination
level when a user is reviewing a captured image in real time in
a viewfinder; and
setting said status indicator illumination level to a header file
illumination level when the user is reviewing said captured image
in other than real time.
22. A method of controlling the illumination level of a status
indicator according to claim 21, wherein said header file illumination
level is an illumination level retrieved from a stored file header
associated with said captured image.
23. A method of controlling the illumination level of a status
indicator according to claim 22, wherein said current illumination
level corresponds functionally to an auto exposure determined scene
brightness level.
24. A digital camera, comprising:
a status indicator for providing a user with camera status information;
an auto exposure algorithm for measuring a brightness level of
an object image; and
a microprocessor responsive to said auto exposure algorithm for
causing said status indicator to be set to an adjusted brightness
level to help facilitate viewing said object image in a viewfinder
disposed in close proximity to said status indicator.
25. A digital camera, comprising:
a viewfinder status indicator to display camera status information
whenever a user activates the camera;
a brightness adjustment algorithm for controlling the brightness
level of said viewfinder status indicator to a brightness level
that corresponds to a determined scene brightness level to help
facilitate viewing a scene and said status indicator substantially
simultaneously.
Digital Camera Patent Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to digital camera viewfinders and
more particularly relates to a method of using a digital camera
viewfinder to determine camera status indications in a variety of
lighting conditions.
BACKGROUND ART
In modern day digital cameras, the viewing of the scene that will
be captured is accomplished with either an optical viewfinder or
a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit either alone or in combination
with an optical viewfinder. In many cases, a light emitting device
with a fixed intensity, is placed near the viewfinder eyepiece in
order to provide the user of the camera with an indication of the
status of the camera. In this regard, the light emitting device
provides for example, indications such as "the camera is ready
to take a picture", "wait for the strobe to recharge",
"low battery warning" and "waiting for the picture
to process". In short then, such status indicator provide valuable
information to the user of a camera to facilitate not only ease
of use but also proper use of the camera.
While such status indicators help facilitate the ease of camera
use, in many situations such indicators, depending upon ambient
lighting conditions, are either too bright, making the scene viewed
through the viewfinder difficult to see, or too dim, making it difficult
for the user to determine camera status.
Therefore, it would be highly desirable to have a digital camera
with a new and improved viewfinder status indicator that facilitates
ease of camera use along with providing clearly readable status
indications in a wide range of lighting conditions from poorly illuminated
indoor settings to brightly illuminated outdoor settings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A digital camera includes a viewfinder having a proximity sensor
which is activated whenever a user looks through the viewfinder
in preparation of viewing an object or framed scene. An illuminated
status indicator mounted for viewing within the viewfinder for providing
the user with camera status information is coupled to the proximity
sensor through a microprocessor that controls the illumination level
of the status indicator. The illumination level of the status indicator
is controlled by the microprocessor in response to an auto-exposure
algorithm that measures the brightness level of the object or framed
scene that is being viewed by the user through the viewfinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above mentioned features of the present invention and the manner
of attaining them will become apparent and the invention itself
will be best understood by reference to the following description
of the preferred embodiment of the invention, in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a digital camera which is constructed
in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a block diagrammatic representation of the digital camera
of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is high level flowchart of a control algorithm utilized
to help set the brightness level setting of a status indicator forming
part of the digital camera of FIG.1; and
FIG. 4 is a high level flowchart of a determination algorithm to
calculate the brightness level of the status indicator forming part
of the digital camera of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1-2
thereof there is shown a digital camera 10 which is constructed
in accordance with the present invention. The digital camera 10
is a portable device that operates in a variety of lighting conditions
ranging from poorly illuminated indoors lighting situations to brightly
illuminated outdoors lighting situations.
Considering the camera 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS.
1-2, the camera 10 generally includes a housing 16 having mounted
therein a lens system or arrangement 13 that helps facilitate directing
the light reflecting from an object to be captured to the photosensitive
plane of the camera 10. In order to help a user frame the object
to be captured, the camera 10 also includes an optical viewfinder
14 that enables a user to visualize a through the lens scene.
The optical viewfinder 14 includes a dichroic mirror 43, a status
indicator 44 and a proximity sensor 45. The proximity sensor 45
generates a presence signal whenever the eye of the user is brought
into close contact with the viewfinder 14. In this regard, the proximity
sensor 45 functions to determine the viewing orientation of the
user (the eye of the user is using the viewfinder 14, or the eye
of the user is not using the viewfinder 14). In any event, the presence
signal is utilized by a status indicator control program 300 to
help control the brightness level of the status indicator 44. In
this regard, the status indicator 44 is brightly illuminated whenever
the eye of the user is not in close proximity to the viewfinder
14 so that the status of the camera 10 can be determined at an arms
length distance, and controlled illuminated when the eye of the
user is in close proximity to the viewfinder. In this regard, the
control program 300, as will be explained hereinafter in greater
detail, determines the ambient lighting conditions and based on
the determined ambient lighting conditions the program 300 controls
or adjusts the illumination level of the status indicator 44 to
allow easy viewing of the framed object image as well as the status
indicator messages.
In order to help limit the amount of light that is communicated
to the photosensitive plane of the camera, the camera 10 further
includes an aperture 18 that is automatically adjusted by a microprocessor
25 via a stepper motor 29. In this regard, the stepper motor 29
is coupled electrically to the microprocessor 25 and coupled mechanically
to the aperture 18 in order to facilitate receiving the proper amount
of light to assure proper image formation.
As best seen in FIG. 2, a shutter 19 is sandwiched between the
aperture 18 and the photosensitive plane of a charged couple device
(CCD) 15 that converts light into an electrical signal that is indicative
of the object framed within the optical viewfinder 14. The shutter
19 is also coupled to the stepper motor 19 to firther facilitate
controlling the amount of light that is allowed to fall on the CCD
15 for light converting purposes. To help control the strength of
the electrical signal passing from the CCD 15 to the microprocessor
25, the camera 10 further includes a gain control device, such as
a variable operational amplifier 47, whose output is connected to
an analog to digital converter 48. The analog to digital converter
48 converts the analog signal passing from the output of the gain
control device 47 into a digital signal of an acceptable level for
processing by the microprocessor 25. A digital to analog converter
58 is coupled electrically between the microprocessor 25 and the
gain control 47 to enable the microprocessor 25 to control the strength
of the output signal that will be converted by the analog to digital
converter 48. As will be explained hereinafter in greater detail,
the microprocessor 25 operates under a set of control programs that
are stored in an internal memory device, such as random access memory
(RAM) module 84.
The digital camera 10 further includes a memory controller 52 that
operates under the control of the microprocessor 25 for facilitating
the storage of each object image captured by the camera 10. In this
regard, the memory controller 52 is adapted to receive a removable
memory card 56, such as a flash memory card, that functions to store
the object images captured by the camera 10.
In order to enable the user to visualize images in either a live
view mode of operation or in a review mode of operation (relative
to images previously stored on the removable memory card 56), the
digital camera 10 also includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) unit
38. The LCD 38 is coupled to the microprocessor 25 via an internal
bus 26 which also allows for buffering of images to the LCD 38 from
a set of internal buffer registers forming part of the microprocessor
25.
The digital camera 10 further includes a user interface 17 having
a set of control switches that includes a power on/off switch 26,
a mode selection switch 28, a zoom in switch 30, a zoom out switch
32 a live view switch 34 and a shutter actuation switch 36. The
function of each of the switches will be described hereinafter in
greater detail where relative. It will suffice to state that the
shutter actuation switch 36 is a two position switch, where in a
first or half way actuated position the camera operates to setup
certain operating conditions, and where in a second or fully actuated
position, the shutter 19 opens and closes to help facilitate the
capture of an object image as seen through the camera lens 13.
Considering now the status indicator control program 300 in greater
detail with reference to FIG. 3, the control program 300 begins
at a start command 302 whenever the user actuates the power switch
26 to place the camera 10 in an active state. From the start command
302 the program proceeds to a command step 304 that resets the POWER.sub.OFF
flag to a logical zero.
Next the program advances to a command step 306 that sets the brightness
level (DSP.sub.BRIGHT) of the status indicator 44 to a predetermined
default level that permits the user to easily see the status indicator
indications while holding the camera 10 at arms length.
The program then goes to a decision step 307 to determine whether
the user has placed the camera 10 in a capture mode of operation
via the mode switch 28. If the user has placed the camera 10 in
the capture mode, the program goes to a determination step 310 to
verify whether a proximity switch has been integrated within the
camera 10. If a proximity switch has been integrated within the
camera 10, the program advances to a determination step 350 (FIG.
3D) to determine whether the proximity switch 45 has been activated.
Alternatively, if a proximity switch has not been integrated within
the camera 10, the programs proceeds to a call auto exposure subroutine,
such as the auto exposure subroutine described in U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 09/428,877. The processes after steps 316 and 350 will
be described hereinafter in greater detail.
If the user has not placed the camera 10 in the capture mode, the
program proceeds from step 307 to a determination step 312 to determine
whether the user has placed the camera 10 into the review mode.
If the camera 10 is in the review mode the program goes to a command
step 323 that will be described hereinafter in greater detail. If
the camera 10 has not been placed in the review mode, the program
advances to a determination step 314 to determine whether the user
has placed the camera in the connect mode.
If the camera 10 is in the review mode, the program goes to the
decision step 323 to determine whether the POWER.sub.OFF flag is
set to a logical one. If this condition is true, the program advances
to a command step 329 that causes the status indicator 44 to blink
to indicate to the user that the camera 10 is busy. If the condition
is not true the program proceeds to a command step 325 that accesses
the image file header and then retrieves the EV value from the file.
It should be understood that when reviewing images in the review
mode, without turning power off, the program 300 will utilize the
brightness setting previously utilized during the capture of the
image. This is the situation when the user is within the same lighting
environment when the image was captured. When no image has been
captured and the user places the camera 10 in the review mode of
operation, the status indicator is set to an EV value that was established
when the image was captured. This EV value is extracted or retrieved
from the file header information associated with the captured image.
From step 325, the program advances to a call command 327 that
calls the set status indicator brightness level subroutine 400 that
will be described hereinafter in greater detail. After the subroutine
400 is executed the program returns and continues to the command
step 329 to cause the status indicator 44 to blink to provide an
indication to the user that the camera 10 is busy.
Next, the program goes to a command step 333 that causes the image
file to be retrieved. After the image file is retrieved, the program
advances to a command step 335 that causes the retrieved image file
to be decompressed. The program then executes a command step 337
to cause the decompressed image to be displayed on the LCD 38. The
program then goes to a command step 339 to discontinue blinking
of the status indicator 44 to provide an indication to the user
that the camera 10 is no longer busy. The program then returns to
step 317 and proceeds as described previously.
Considering now if the camera 10 is in the connect mode, the program
goes to the command step 311 that will be described hereinafter
in greater detail. Otherwise, the program proceeds to a determination
step 317 that will be described hereinafter in greater detail.
Considering now the command step 311 in greater detail with reference
to FIG. 3A, the command step 311 causes the microprocessor 25 to
set the brightness level of the status indicator 44 to a predetermined
default level. Once the display brightness has been set to the default
level, the program goes to a command step 313 that causes the status
indicator 44 to blink when the camera 10 is communicating with another
device. The program then advances to a determination step 315 to
verify that the camera 10 is not busy communicating with another
device. If the camera 10 is busy, the program returns to step 313
and loops between steps 313 and 315 until the communication with
another device has been completed.
If the camera 10 is not communicating with another device, the
program proceeds to a decision step 317 to determine whether the
user has actuated the power switch 26 to power down the camera 10.
If the user has actuated the power switch 26 the program advances
to an exit command 321 to exit the program. Otherwise, the program
goes to a decision step 319 to determine whether the camera time
out period has expired. In this regard, if the user has allowed
the time out period to expire (without pushing any buttons or activating
any camera functions), the programs goes to the exit command 321
and proceeds as described previously. Otherwise, the program returns
to the decision step 307 and proceeds as described previously.
Considering now the actions of the camera 10 after the auto exposure
subroutine has been executed in response to the call command 316
(FIG. 3B), the program exits the auto exposure subroutine and proceeds
to a call command 318 that calls a calculate status indicator brightness
based upon a scene brightness level subroutine 400 (FIG. 4) that
will be described hereinafter in greater detail. The calculate status
indicator brightness subroutine causes the microprocessor 25 to
calculate the display brightness based upon the scene brightness
(EV) as determined by the auto exposure subroutine. After the calculate
subroutine 400 has been executed, the program advances to a decision
step 328 to determine whether the user has actuated the shutter
button 36. If the user has not actuated the shutter button 36, the
program advances to the decision step 317 and proceeds as described
previously. If the user has actuated the shutter button 36, the
programs goes to a command step 330 that causes the object framed
within the camera lens 13 to be captured by the charged couple device
15.
Once the object image has been captured, the program proceeds to
a command step 332 that causes the status indicator 44 at the previously
set brightness setting to blink in order to provide the user with
an indication that an image has been captured and is being processed.
The program then advances to a command step 334 that causes the
microprocessor 25 to process the captured image. Once the image
has been processed, the program causes the processed image to be
stored at a command step 336. To provide an indication to the user
that the captured image has been processed and stored for retrieval
and review, the program goes to a command step 338 that causes the
status indicator 44 to discontinue blinking. Next the program goes
to a command step 340 that sets the POWER.sub.OFF to a logical 1.
From step 340 the program goes to the decision step 317 and proceeds
as described previously.
Considering now the process followed by the camera 10 when a determination
is made at step 310 (FIG. 3A) that a proximity switch has been integrated
into the camera 10, the program, as mentioned earlier goes to a
decision step 350 (FIG. 3D) to determine whether the proximity switch
45 has been activated. If the proximity switch 45 has been activated,
the program goes to a call command 352 that will be described hereinafter
in greater detail. If the proximity switch 45 has not been activated,
the program advances to the determination step 317 and proceeds
as described previously.
Considering now the call command 352 in greater detail with reference
to FIG. 3D, the call command 352 causes the auto exposure subroutine
to be executed (See previous discussion relative to the auto exposure
subroutine). Once the auto exposure subroutine has been executed,
the program continues to a call command 354. The call command 354
causes the microprocessor 25 to calculate the display brightness
based upon the scene brightness (EV). Next the program advances
to a decision command 366 to determine whether the user has activated
the shutter switch 36. If the user has not activated the shutter
switch 36, the program goes to the decision step 350 and proceeds
as described previously. Otherwise, if the shutter switch has been
activated the program advances to a command step 368 (FIG. 3D) that
causes the object image framed within the camera lens 13 to be captured
by the CCD 15.
From the command step 368 the program goes to a command step 370
that causes the status indicator to start blinking to give the user
of the camera 10 and indication that the object image has been captured
and is being processed. Next the program advances to a decision
step 372 to determine whether the proximity switch 45 is still activated.
In this regard, if the user is still holding his or her eye in close
proximity to the viewfinder 14, the proximity switch will remain
active causing the status indicator 44 to remain at the same brightness
level. In this regard, if a determination is made that the proximity
switch 45 is active, the program goes to a command step 374 that
causes the microprocessor 25 to process the captured image.
Next, the program proceeds to a command step 376 that causes the
processed image to be stored. Once the processed image has been
stored on the removable memory card 56, the program goes to a command
step 378 to cause the status indicator 44 to discontinue blinking
to give the user an indication that the captured image has been
processed and stored for subsequent retrieval and review by the
user. From step 378, the program advances to a command step 380
that causes POWER.sub.OFF to be set to a logical one. The program
then goes to the decision step 317 (FIG. 3A) and proceeds as described
previously.
If at step 372 a determination is made that the proximity switch
45 is no longer active, the program goes to a command step 373 that
causes the display brightness level to be set to a maximum brightness
level. In this regard, if the user is holding the camera 10 at an
arms length position for example, the brightness level of the status
indicator 44 is increased to a maximum brightness level to make
it easier for the user to visualize the status indicator 44. The
program then advances to a command step 375 that causes the brightness
level of the status indicator 44 to be set to the brightness level
of DSP.sub.BRIGHT . The program then goes to step 374 and proceeds
as described previously.
Considering now the calculate brightness subroutine 400 in greater
detail with reference to FIG. 4, the calculate brightness subroutine
400 is executed in response to the call calculate brightness step
318 (FIG. 3B) or the call calculate brightness step 327 (FIG. 3C)
or the call calculate brightness step 354 (FIG. 3D) whichever the
case may be. After the calculate brightness subroutine 400 is executed
the program returns to the next step following the call command
that initiated the subroutine 400. In response to any of the above-mentioned
call commands, the subroutine 400 begins by the execution of a command
402.
From the start command 400, the program proceeds to a command step
404 that set the hystersis level (HYST) to a numerical value of
two. Next the program goes to a command step 406 that determines
the status indicator brightness level as INT (EV -2).
The program then advances to a command step 407 that set the value
of BRIGHT equal to the numerical value of two if the value of BRIGHT
is less than three. Next, the program goes to a decision step 408
to determine whether the brightness level is less that DSP.sub.BRIGHT
- HYST. If this condition is true, the program goes to a command
step 412 that set DSP.sub.BRIGHT equal to BRIGHT to prepare a new
control word for setting the status indicator to a new brightness
level. After executing the command step 412 the program advances
to a command step 414 that sets the brightness of the status indicator
to the DSP.sub.BRIGHT setting. It should be understood by those
skilled in the art that the microprocessor 25 includes an internal
pulse width modulator (not shown) that responds a pulse width modulator
word based upon the EV setting, where the pulse width modulator
word is generated at step 414 for controlling the brightness level
of the status indicator 44. After executing the command step 414,
the program proceeds to a return step 416 that returns the program
to the next step following the call command that initiated the subroutine
400 as described earlier.
If at the decision step 408 a determination is made that the brightness
level BRIGHT is not less that DSP.sub.BRIGHT - Hystersis, the program
goes to another decision step 410 to determine whether the brightness
level BRIGHT is greater than DSP.sub.BRIGHT +Hystersis. If this
condition is true, the program goes to the command step 412 and
proceeds as described previously. Otherwise the program leaves the
brightness level of the status indicator 44 unchanged and advances
to the command step 414 proceeding as described previously.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications
are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope
of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations
to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presented. |