Binoculars and method for adjusting an interpupillary distance

Abstract

The invention relates to binoculars and a method for adjusting an interpupillary distance of binoculars, comprising a first housing half having a first eyepiece with a first optical axis, a second housing half having a second eyepiece with a second optical axis, wherein the distance of the first optical axis to the second optical axis defines an interpupillary distance and wherein the first housing half and the second housing half are hingedly connected to each other by means of at least one folding bridge and wherein the folding bridge comprises a first folding bridge portio coupled with the first housing half and a second folding bridge portion coupled with the second housing half and wherein the interpupillary distance may be changed by pivoting the two housing halves and wherein a detection device is formed, by means of which the interpupillary distance may be determined.

Claims

1. Binoculars comprising: a first housing half having a first eyepiece with a first optical axis; a second housing half having a second eyepiece with a second optical axis; wherein the distance of the first optical axis to the second optical axis defines an interpupillary distance; wherein the first housing half and the second housing half are hingedly connected to each other by means of at least one folding bridge, wherein the folding bridge comprises a first folding bridge portion coupled with the first housing half and a second folding bridge portion coupled with the second housing half forming a folding angle between the first folding bridge portion and the second folding bridge portion; wherein the interpupillary distance is adjustable by pivoting the two housing halves; wherein a detection device with a first inclinometer and a second inclinometer is formed, wherein the first inclinometer is located in the first housing half and/or the first folding bridge portion coupled therewith and the second inclinometer is located in the second housing half and/or the second folding bridge portion coupled therewith; and wherein the first inclinometer and the second inclinometer are configured to determine a first folding bridge angle of the first folding bridge portion and a second folding bridge angle of the second folding bridge portion relative to a horizontal; and wherein the detection device is configured to determine the folding angle based on the first folding bridge angle and the second folding bridge angle, and the interpupillary distance based on the folding angle.

2. The binoculars according to claim 1, wherein the interpupillary distance is determined based on the folding angle by means of trigonometrical calculations and/or an allocation table.

3. The binoculars according to claim 1, wherein the position of the binoculars relative to the horizontal is determinable from the first folding bridge angle and the second folding bridge angle.

4. The binoculars according to claim 1, wherein a wireless interface is formed, by means of which the binoculars are coupled with a mobile terminal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The following is shown in highly simplified, schematic representation:

(2) FIG. 1 binoculars with a detection device according to the invention and an output device;

(3) FIG. 2 another embodiment of binoculars with another embodiment of a detection device and an output device;

(4) FIG. 3 another embodiment of binoculars with another embodiment of a detection device and an output device;

(5) FIG. 4 side view of the binoculars according to FIG. 1, viewed from the side of the eyepiece;

(6) FIG. 5 side view of the binoculars according to FIG. 2, viewed from the side of the eyepiece;

(7) FIG. 6 side view of the binoculars according to FIG. 3, viewed from the side of the eyepiece;

(8) FIG. 7 another embodiment of binoculars with a user input device;

(9) FIG. 8 an embodiment of an allocation table;

(10) FIG. 9 an allocation diagram for an allocation table according to FIG. 8;

(11) FIGS. 10a-10d an embodiment for determining a folding angle from the measurement of the inclination of a first housing half and a second housing half.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) First of all, it should be noted that in the embodiments described in different ways, identical parts are given identical reference numbers or identical component names, and the disclosures contained in the entire description may be correspondingly applied to identical parts with identical reference numbers or identical component names. Moreover, the position indications used in the description, such as at the top, at the bottom, lateral, etc. directly refer to the figure shown and described, and, if a position changes, said position indications are to be correspondingly applied to the new position.

(13) In FIG. 1, binoculars 1 are shown, comprising a first housing half 2 having a first eyepiece 3 and a first optical axis 4, and a second housing half 5 having a second eyepiece 6 and a second optical axis 7. The distance of the first optical axis 4 to the second optical axis 7 defines an interpupillary distance 8 in this regard. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first housing half 2 and the second housing half 5 are hingedly connected to each other by means of two folding bridges 9, wherein the folding bridges 9 each comprise a first folding bridge portion 10 coupled with the first housing half 2 and a second folding bridge portion 11 coupled with the second housing half 5.

(14) By pivoting the two housing halves 2, 5, the interpupillary distance 8 may be changed and adapted to the individual requirements of a user of the binoculars 1. In this connection, by adapting the interpupillary distance 8, the binoculars 1 may be adjusted to the individual interocular or interpupillary distance of the user. In this regard, a detection device 12 is formed, by means of which the current interpupillary distance 8 may be determined. The course of adapting interpupillary distance 8 to the individual requirements of the user, the interpupillary distance 8 may be continuously detected by means of the detection device 12 in the course of the adjustment.

(15) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the detection device 12 comprises one sensor device 13 in each of the two folding bridges 9. By means of the sensor devices 13, a folding angle 14 between the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 coupled therewith may be determined in each of the two folding bridges 9, wherein the interpupillary distance 8 may be derived or calculated from the folding angle 14.

(16) In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sensor device 13 may also be provided in only one of the folding bridges 9 shown in FIG. 1.

(17) In the case of multiple determination of the folding angles 14 between the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 coupled therewith, a comparison of the individual determined folding angles 14 is further provided, wherein possible measurement errors of the individual sensor devices 13 may be recognized and reduced.

(18) In this regard, the interpupillary distance 8 may be determined from the folding angle 14 by means of trigonometrical calculations and/or an allocation table 45.

(19) As a basis for performing the trigonometrical calculation, an isosceles triangle 15 is formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and a folding bridge pivot axis 16 as corner points. For complete determination of the isosceles triangle 15, in addition to the determinable folding angle 14, the length of the first folding bridge portion 10 or the distance between the first optical axis 4 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 on the one hand, and the length of the second folding bridge portion 11 or the distance between the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 on the other hand are known.

(20) Alternatively or in addition to the trigonometrical calculation of the interpupillary distance 8, an allocation table 45 may be stored in a memory unit 17 provided in the binoculars 1, by means of which particular folding angles 14 may be allocated to particular interpupillary distances 8.

(21) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sensor devices 13 are configured as angle measurement sensors 18, by means of which the folding angle 14 between the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 coupled therewith may be determined.

(22) In this regard, the sensor devices 13 comprise at least one first inclinometer 19 and a second inclinometer 20. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first inclinometer 19 is formed in the first folding bridge portion 10 coupled with the first housing half 2, and the second inclinometer 20 is formed in the second folding bridge portion 11 coupled with the second housing half 5.

(23) In this regard, a first folding bridge angle 21 of the first folding bridge portion 10 and a second folding bridge angle 22 of the second folding bridge portion 11 may be determined relative to a horizontal 23. The first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 together form the folding angle 14 of the folding bridge 9. From the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22, the folding angle 14 may thus be determined.

(24) If one now looks at the isosceles triangle 15 formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16, the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 can be found in relation to an axis of symmetry 24 of the triangle 15. If the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 are known, the triangle 15 may thus be again completely determined.

(25) By means of an output device 25, an interpupillary distance 8 deviating from a target interpupillary distance 26 stored for the user may further be signaled. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the current interpupillary distance 8 and the target interpupillary distance 26 are identical, and the interpupillary distance 8 desired or suitable for the user is adjusted between the first optical axis 4 and the second optical axis 7.

(26) The output device 25 may be configured as an acoustic, optical and/or tactile signaling device 27, by means of which the target interpupillary distance 26 that may be reached in the course of the adjustment of the interpupillary distance 8 may be signaled.

(27) In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the output device 25 or optical signaling device 27 is configured as a display 28, on which the current interpupillary distance 8 may be seen. Moreover, the target interpupillary distance 26 reached in the course of adjusting the interpupillary distance 8 may be signaled. In this regard, the display 28 is coupled into a first observation beam path 29 of the first housing half 2.

(28) Alternatively, according to an embodiment which is not shown in detail, the display 28 may be coupled into a second observation beam path 30 of the second housing half 5. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that parts of the display 28 are coupled into the first observation beam path 29, and parts of the display 28 are coupled into the second observation beam path 30.

(29) In FIG. 1, it can also be seen that the binoculars 1 comprise a processor unit 31 comprising a first interface 32 to the output device 25 and a second interface 33 to the detection device 12. By means of the processor unit 31, the target interpupillary distance 26 may be retrieved from the memory unit 17 and compared to the interpupillary distance 8. If the target interpupillary distance 26 is identical with the interpupillary distance 8, a signal output command is transmitted to the output device 25, which is configured as a display 28 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the user receives a signal that the target interpupillary distance 26 individually stored for them is being adjusted, which results in a pleasant viewing experience with the binoculars 1.

(30) In the memory unit 17, a user profile of the user may be stored, which may also comprise further user-related setting values in addition to the user-related target interpupillary distance 26. Such setting values include, for example, the diopter compensation value, the brightness of the display 28, the layout or the information to be shown on the display 28, or other device functionalities.

(31) Furthermore, the binoculars 1 may be coupled with a mobile terminal 35 via a wireless interface 34. For this purpose, a wireless connection 36 may be established between the binoculars 1 and the mobile terminal 35, by means of which, on the one hand, data may be mutually transmitted, and communication between the binoculars 1 and the mobile terminal 35 is enabled.

(32) In this connection, the mobile terminal 35 may be a smartphone, a PDA or a tablet computer carried by the user.

(33) Alternatively or additionally to the user profile stored in the memory unit 17, user setting parameters may also be stored on the mobile terminal 35. In this connection, in the scope of coupling the binoculars 1 with the mobile terminal 35, a user profile may again be loaded, and the binoculars 1 may be adjusted according to the user requirements.

(34) Finally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a user recognition device 37 is provided, by means of which the user may be identified. Said user recognition device may be a biometric user recognition device 37, such as a fingerprint sensor 38. If a user is recognized by the user recognition device 37, the applicable user profile may be loaded from the memory unit 17 based on this information, and the target interpupillary distance 26 may be adjusted.

(35) In FIG. 2, another, possibly independent embodiment of the binoculars 1 is shown, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIG. 1 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIG. 1.

(36) The binoculars 1 shown in FIG. 2 are foldable compact binoculars 39 with a detection device 12 and an output device 25 for an interpupillary distance 8 or a target interpupillary distance 26. In the compact binoculars 39, the first housing half 2 and the second housing half 5 are hingedly connected to each other by means of a folding bridge 9, wherein the folding bridge 9 comprises a first folding bridge portion 10 coupled with the first housing half 2 and a second folding bridge portion 11 coupled with the second housing half 5. The first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 are hingedly connected to each other by means of a connecting bridge 40.

(37) By pivoting the two housing halves 2, 5, the interpupillary distance 8 may in turn be changed and adapted to the individual requirements of a user of the compact binoculars 39. By means of a detection device 12, the interpupillary distance 8 may be detected in the course of the adjustment, wherein a first folding angle 14 between the first folding bridge portion 10 and the connecting bridge 40 may be determined, and furthermore a second folding angle 14′ between the second folding bridge portion 11 and the connecting bridge 40 may be determined. For this purpose, the detection device 12 comprises a sensor device 13, wherein in the first folding bridge portion 10, a first inclinometer 19 is provided, and in the second folding bridge portion 11, a second inclinometer 20 is provided.

(38) The interpupillary distance 8 may be determined from the first folding angle 14 and the second folding angle 14′ by means of trigonometrical calculations and/or an allocation table 45.

(39) When a trigonometrical calculation is performed, a trapezoid 41 is formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and the pivot axes of the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 as corner points. For complete determination of the trapezoid 41, apart from the first folding angle 14 and the second folding angle 14′, the length of the connecting bridge 40, the distance between the first optical axis 4 and the first folding bridge pivot axis 16, and the distance between the second optical axis 7 and the second folding bridge pivot axis 16′ are known.

(40) In FIG. 3, another, possibly independent embodiment of the binoculars 1 is shown, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1 and 2 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1 and 2.

(41) The binoculars 1 shown in FIG. 3 again comprise a first housing half 2 and a second housing half 5, which are hingedly connected to each other by means of a folding bridge 9 in the embodiment shown. The folding bridge 9 comprises a first folding bridge portion 10 coupled with the first housing half 2 and a second folding bridge portion 11 coupled with the second housing half 5.

(42) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the detection device 12 comprises one sensor device 13 in the first housing half 2 and one sensor device 13 in the second housing half 5. By means of the sensor devices 13, which are configured as a first inclinometer 19 in the first housing half 2 and a second inclinometer 20 in the second housing half 5, a folding angle 14 between the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 coupled therewith may be determined, wherein the interpupillary distance 8 may in turn be derived or calculated from the folding angle 14.

(43) By means of an output device 25 in the form of a scale 42 at a focusing wheel 43, the currently adjusted interpupillary distance 8 is shown. In this regard, the focusing wheel 43 may be configured in two parts with multiple rotary drives.

(44) If the interpupillary distance 8 is identical with the target interpupillary distance 26, this may also be shown on the scale 42, which is coupled with a rotary drive for adjusting the interpupillary distance 8.

(45) Alternatively, a tactile feedback to the user of the binoculars 1 is conceivable, wherein reaching of the target interpupillary distance 26 is signaled by the two-part focusing wheel locking at a defined position.

(46) Reaching of the target interpupillary distance 26 may also be signaled by a separate acoustic signaling device 27.

(47) In FIG. 4, a side view of the binoculars 1 according to FIG. 1 is shown, viewed from the side of the eyepiece, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-3 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-3.

(48) As already described in connection with FIG. 1, an interpupillary distance 8 may be determined from the folding angle 14 by means of trigonometrical calculations and/or an allocation table 45.

(49) As can be seen in FIG. 4, a triangle 15 is formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and a folding bridge pivot axis 16 of the binoculars 1 as corner points. The isosceles triangle 15 serves as a basis for performing a trigonometrical calculation.

(50) For complete determination of the isosceles triangle 15, the length of the first folding bridge angle 10 on the one hand, and the length of the second folding bridge angle 11 on the other hand are known in addition to the folding angle 14 determinable by means of a detection device 12 or sensor devices 13.

(51) The distance between the first optical axis 4 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 may also be considered the length of the first folding bridge portion 10, and the distance between the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 may be considered the length of the second folding bridge portion 11.

(52) If one now once again looks at the isosceles triangle 15 formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16, the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 can be found in relation to an axis of symmetry 24 of the triangle 15. If the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 are known, the triangle 15 may thus be further completely determined.

(53) In FIG. 5, a side view of the binoculars 1 according to FIG. 2 is shown, viewed from the side of the eyepiece, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-4 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-4.

(54) The binoculars 1 shown in FIG. 5 are compact binoculars 39, wherein the first housing half 2 and the second housing half 5 are hingedly connected to each other by means of a folding bridge 9. The folding bridge 9 comprises a first folding bridge portion 10 coupled with the first housing half 2 and a second folding bridge portion 11 coupled with the second housing half 5. The first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 are hingedly connected to each other by means of a connecting bridge 40.

(55) As a basis for performing the trigonometrical calculation for determining the interpupillary distance 8, a trapezoid 41 is formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and the pivot axes of the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 as corner points. For complete determination of the trapezoid 41, apart from the first folding angle 14 and the second folding angle 14′, the length of the connecting bridge 40, the distance between the first optical axis 4 and the first folding bridge pivot axis 16, and the distance between the second optical axis 7 and the second folding bridge pivot axis 16′ are known.

(56) In FIG. 6, a side view of the binoculars 1 according to FIG. 3 is shown, viewed from the side of the eyepiece, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-5 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-5.

(57) An isosceles triangle 15 is again formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and a folding bridge pivot axis 16 of the binoculars 1 as corner points, which serves as a basis for performing a trigonometrical calculation.

(58) For complete determination of the isosceles triangle 15, the length of the first folding bridge angle 10 on the one hand, and the length of the second folding bridge angle 11 on the other hand are known in addition to the folding angle 14 determinable by means of a detection device 12 or sensor devices 13.

(59) If one now once again looks at the isosceles triangle 15 formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16, the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 can be found in relation to an axis of symmetry 24 of the triangle 15. If the first folding bridge angle 21 and the second folding bridge angle 22 are known, the triangle 15 may thus be further completely determined.

(60) In FIG. 7, another, possibly independent embodiment of the binoculars 1 is shown, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-6 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-6.

(61) The binoculars 1 shown in FIG. 7 are electronic binoculars 1, comprising a user input device 44. By means of the user input device 44, a user may select a user profile by means of a user dialog shown on the display 28 and load it from a memory unit 17.

(62) Based on the selected user profile, the target interpupillary distance 26 desired for the user may now be automatically adjusted in order to provide a pleasant viewing and observation experience for the user.

(63) Furthermore, by means of the user profile, setting parameters of the binoculars 1, such as the diopter compensation value, the brightness, the device functionality, the display layout, etc. may be automatically adapted based on the user settings.

(64) In FIG. 8, an allocation table 45 for the interpupillary distance 8 of binoculars 1 is shown, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-7 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-7.

(65) According to the embodiment shown, the interpupillary distance 8 may be determined from the allocation table 45.

(66) A triangle 15 is again formed through the first optical axis 4, the second optical axis 7 and a folding bridge pivot axis 16 of the binoculars 1 as corner points. The isosceles triangle 15 serves as a basis for deriving the interpupillary distance 8 from a folding angle 14.

(67) For complete determination of the isosceles triangle 15, in addition to the folding angle 14 determinable by means of a detection device 12 or sensor devices 13, the length 46 of the first folding bridge portion 10 on the one hand, and the length 46′ of the second folding bridge portion 11 on the other hand are known.

(68) The distance between the first optical axis 4 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 may also be considered the length 46 of the first folding bridge portion 10, and the distance between the second optical axis 7 and the folding bridge pivot axis 16 may be considered the length 46′ of the second folding bridge portion 11.

(69) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 are of equal length, wherein the length 46, 46′ of the folding bridge portions 10, 11 is 40 mm according to the embodiment.

(70) If, for example, a folding angle 14 of 80° is now determined, an interpupillary distance 8 of 51.4 mm is allocated to the determined folding angle 14 by means of the allocation table 45. Further examples for the allocation of a folding angle 14 to an interpupillary distance 8 can be found in the allocation table 45 shown in FIG. 8, wherein the allocation table 45 applies to the length 46, 46′ of the folding bridge portions 10, 11 of 40 mm.

(71) Finally, in FIG. 9, an allocation diagram 47 for an allocation table 45 according to FIG. 8 is shown, wherein identical reference numbers or component names as in preceding FIGS. 1-8 are again used for identical parts. To avoid unnecessary repetition, reference is made to the detailed description in preceding FIGS. 1-8.

(72) In FIG. 10, an embodiment for determining a folding angle 14 of binoculars 1 and the tilt from a measurement of the inclination of a first housing half 2 and a second housing half 5 is shown.

(73) In the embodiment, all mentioned angles are counted such that clockwise rotation is positive and counter-clockwise rotation of the angle is negative.

(74) According to FIG. 10a, in the first housing half 2, a first inclinometer 19, and in the second housing half 5, a second inclinometer 20 are provided, wherein the first inclinometer 19 and the second inclinometer 20 are stationary in the first housing half 2 and the second housing half 5, respectively. In this regard, the first inclinometer 19 and the second inclinometer 20 are calibrated such that, in a horizontal position in relation to a horizontal 23 and with a reference interpupillary distance 48, they display a measurement value of zero for the respective associated inclination angles 55, 56 (e.g. if the length 46, 46′ of the first folding bridge portion 10 and the second folding bridge portion 11 is 40 mm, a reference interpupillary distance 48 is 65 mm and an associated reference folding angle 50 is 108.7°).

(75) If, as is now shown in FIG. 10b, the binoculars 1 are tilted or rotated in relation to the horizontal 23, the inclination angle 49 changes.

(76) According to the representation in FIG. 10c, the first inclination angle 55 is adjusted or changed by a first adjusting angle 51 of the first housing half 2, and the second inclination angle 56 by a second adjusting angle 52 of the second housing half 5 by changing the interpupillary distance 8. In this regard, the first adjusting angle 51 relates to a first normal 53 perpendicular to the horizontal 23, wherein the first normal 53 is also perpendicular to a first optical axis 4. The second adjusting angle 52 relates to a second normal 54 perpendicular to the horizontal 23, wherein the second normal 54 is also perpendicular to a second optical axis 7.

(77) In FIG. 10d, simultaneous tilting of the binoculars 1 and changing of the interpupillary distance 8 are shown. In this regard, by means of the first inclinometer 19, a first inclination angle 55 may be determined, and by means of the second inclinometer 20, a second inclination angle 56 may be determined.

(78) From the first inclination angle 55 and the second inclination angle 56, the tilting angle 49 and the folding angle 14 may be determined, wherein in the following formulae

(79) θ.sub.1 refers to the second inclination angle 56

(80) θ.sub.2 refers to the first inclination angle 55

(81) δ.sub.1 refers to the second adjusting angle 52

(82) δ.sub.2 refers to the first adjusting angle 51

(83) β refers to the tilting angle 49

(84) γ refers to the folding angle 14

(85) γ.sub.ref refers to the reference folding angle 50

(86) With the aid of the known first inclination angle 55 and the known second inclination angle 56, the following equations may be formulated:
θ.sub.1=δ.sub.1+β
θ.sub.2=δ.sub.2+β
δ.sub.1=−δ.sub.2

(87) From this, the folding angle 14 may be calculated as follows:
β=½*(θ.sub.1+θ.sub.2)
δ.sub.1=½*(θ.sub.1−θ.sub.2)
γ=γ.sub.ref+2δ.sub.1=γ.sub.ref+θ.sub.1−θ.sub.2

(88) With the aid of the folding angle 14, the interpupillary distance 8 may now be determined.

(89) The embodiments show possible variations; however, it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to its variations specifically shown; rather, various combinations of the individual variations are possible, and this variation possibility based on the technical teaching of the present invention is subject to the skills of the person skilled in the art active in this technical field.

(90) The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and the drawings are to be used for construing the claims. The individual features or feature combinations of the different embodiments shown and described may constitute independent inventive solutions. The object underlying the independent inventive solutions may be gathered from the description.

(91) All indications of ranges of values in the present description are to be understood such that they also include any and all sub-ranges therefrom; for example, the indication 1 to 10 is to be understood such that all sub-ranges are included, starting at the lower limit 1 up to the upper limit 10; i.e. all sub-ranges start with a lower limit of 1 or larger and end at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

(92) As a matter of form, it should finally be noted that for better understanding of the structure, some of the elements have been represented unscaled and/or enlarged and/or in reduced size.