Electrical connector assembly with liquid cooling features

Abstract

An electrical connector assembly includes a connector housing and a busbar having a rectangular cross section defining two opposed major surfaces and two opposed minor surfaces disposed within the connector housing. A planar surface is defined by one of the two opposed major surfaces of the busbar. The electrical connector assembly further includes a cooling plate that is sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the planar surface of the busbar. The cooling plate is configured to reduce a temperature of the busbar.

Claims

1. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a connector housing; a busbar having a planar surface; a cooling plate sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the planar surface of the busbar and configured to reduce a temperature of the busbar, wherein the cooling plate comprises: a first portion defining an inlet port and an outlet port, a coolant channel in fluidic communication with the inlet port and the outlet port, and a second portion having an outer surface in conductive thermal contact with the planar surface of the busbar; a primary seal disposed intermediate the first portion and the second portion; and a secondary seal disposed between the first portion and the connector housing.

2. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the cooling plate is configured to allow a liquid coolant to flow into the inlet port, through the coolant channel and out of the outlet port.

3. The electrical connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the busbar is a first busbar and the planar surface is a first planar surface and wherein the electrical connector assembly further comprises: a second busbar having a rectangular cross section defining two opposed major surfaces and two opposed minor surfaces disposed within the connector housing, wherein a second planar surface is defined by one of the two opposed major surfaces of the second busbar, wherein the cooling plate is sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the first planar surface of the first busbar and in conductive thermal contact with the second planar surface of the second busbar and configured to reduce a temperature of the second busbar.

4. The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the first and second planar surfaces are adjacent to curved surfaces of the first and second busbars.

5. The electrical connector assembly of claim 3, further comprising: a dielectric thermal interface material layer intermediate the cooling plate and the first and second planar surfaces.

6. An electrical connector assembly, comprising: a connector housing; a busbar having a planar surface; and a cooling plate sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the planar surface of the busbar and configured to reduce a temperature of the busbar, wherein the cooling plate comprises: a first portion defining an inlet port and an outlet port, a coolant channel in fluidic communication with the inlet port and the outlet port, wherein the first portion defines a plurality of cooling fins extending into the coolant channel, and a second portion having an outer surface in conductive thermal contact with the planar surface of the busbar.

7. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the cooling plate is configured to allow a liquid coolant to flow into the inlet port, through the coolant channel and out of the outlet port.

8. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising a primary seal disposed intermediate the first portion and the second portion.

9. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising: a means for protecting the busbars from environmental contaminants.

10. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, further comprising: a means for electrically isolating the pair of busbars from the means for reducing the temperature of the pair of busbars.

11. The electrical connector assembly of claim 6, wherein the busbar is a first busbar and the planar surface is a first planar surface and wherein the electrical connector assembly further comprises: a second busbar having a rectangular cross section defining two opposed major surfaces and two opposed minor surfaces disposed within the connector housing, wherein a second planar surface is defined by one of the two opposed major surfaces of the second busbar, wherein the cooling plate is sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the first planar surface of the first busbar and in conductive thermal contact with the second planar surface of the second busbar and configured to reduce a temperature of the second busbar.

12. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second planar surfaces are adjacent to curved surfaces of the first and second busbars.

13. The electrical connector assembly of claim 11, further comprising: a dielectric thermal interface material layer intermediate the cooling plate and the first and second planar surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is perspective front view of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective rear view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 showing a plurality of different cover configurations according to an embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective rear view of an opening in a connector housing of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a perspective left side view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 showing a cover having coolant tube running through the cover according to an embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective right side view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective rear view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 is a perspective bottom view of the cover of FIG. 6 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the coolant tube of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 4 interconnected with a cooling system of an electrically propelled vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 4 including a thermoelectric device according to an embodiment of the invention;

(11) FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 showing a member having a coolant duct terminated by a pair of liquid ports according to an embodiment of the invention;

(12) FIG. 11 is a perspective left side view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 10 showing a cover having the pair of liquid ports extending through an aperture in the cover according to an embodiment of the invention;

(13) FIG. 12 is a perspective right side view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 showing a cover having a pair of airflow ports extending through the cover according to an embodiment of the invention;

(14) FIG. 13 is a partial exploded view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 12 showing the cover and an interconnection between a pair of terminals according to an embodiment of the invention;

(15) FIG. 14 is a perspective bottom view of the cover of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 12 showing a baffle according to an embodiment of the invention;

(16) FIG. 15 is a perspective rear view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 1 showing a cover having a plurality of cooling fins extending from the cover according to an embodiment of the invention;

(17) FIG. 16 is a cross section view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 15 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(18) FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of an electrical connector assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

(19) FIG. 18 is an isolated view of a liquid cooling plate of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 17 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(20) FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the liquid cooling plate of FIG. 18 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(21) FIG. 20 is a cross section view of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 17 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(22) FIG. 21 is a graph of the temperature of various components electrical connector assembly of FIG. 17 while conducting 500 amperes according to an embodiment of the invention;

(23) FIG. 22 is a graph of the temperature of various components electrical connector assembly of FIG. 17 while conducting 600 amperes according to an embodiment of the invention;

(24) FIG. 23 is a graph of the temperature of various components electrical connector assembly of FIG. 17 compared to an alternative cooling system according to an embodiment of the invention;

(25) FIG. 24A is a temperature gradient top view of the liquid cooling plate of FIG. 18 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(26) FIG. 24B is a temperature gradient bottom view of the liquid cooling plate of FIG. 18 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(27) FIG. 25A is a perspective view of an electrical connector assembly in a partially assembled condition according to another embodiment of the invention;

(28) FIG. 25B is a front view of a printed circuit board subassembly of the electrical connector assembly of FIG. 25A according to an embodiment of the invention.

(29) FIG. 25C is a close-up view of the printed circuit board subassembly of FIG. 25B according to an embodiment of the invention;

(30) FIG. 25D is a cross-section view of the printed circuit board subassembly of FIG. 25B according to an embodiment of the invention;

(31) FIG. 26 is an isolated perspective view of the liquid cooling plate of FIG. 18 and a pair of busbars of FIG. 20 according to an embodiment of the invention;

(32) FIG. 27 is an isolated top view of the liquid cooling plate and the pair of busbars according to an embodiment of the invention; and

(33) FIG. 28 is an isolated bottom view of the liquid cooling plate and the pair of busbars according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(34) Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments.

(35) FIGS. 1 through 16 illustrate a non-limiting example of an electrical connecter assembly embodying features of the invention. The illustrated example of the electrical connector assembly, hereinafter referred to as the assembly 10, serves a charging port of an electrically propelled vehicle. As used herein, the term “electrically propelled vehicle” may refer to an electric vehicle which is propelled solely by an electric motor or a hybrid electric vehicle which is propelled by an electric motor in some combination with a combustion engine. The assembly 10 as illustrated conforms to Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Specification J1772 Combined Charging System. The assembly 10 has a combination of electrical terminals 12 for lower power alternating current (AC) charging of the vehicle battery and a pair of DC terminals 14 for higher power direct current (DC) charging of the vehicle battery, as shown in FIG. 1. Other charging port standards, such as standards published by the CHAdeMO Association, use a similar pair of DC terminals.

(36) As shown in FIG. 2, the assembly includes a connector housing, hereinafter referred to as the housing 16, that defines a cavity 18 in which the DC terminals 14 are disposed. As can be seen by referencing FIGS. 3, 8, and 16, the DC terminals 14 are interconnected to cable terminals 20 of insulated wire cables connecting the assembly 10 to the battery pack 22 of the vehicle. The DC terminals 14 carry power levels of 90 kilowatts or more which can cause the temperature to rise within the cavity 18 during the battery charging operation. The assembly 10 further includes a cover that is configured to enclose the cavity 18, thereby protecting the DC terminals 14 and the cable terminals 20. The cover is also configured to thermally manage heat within the cavity 18 by removing thermal energy from the cavity 18.

(37) The housing 16 is designed to receive and accommodate several different cover configurations 100, 200, 300, 400, 500. Each of the cover configurations 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 uses a different thermal management mechanism to thermally manage heat within the cavity 18. The cover configurations 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 include active thermal management mechanisms such as one or more liquid ports that are configured to receive a liquid coolant flow within the cavity 18, one or more thermoelectric cooling plates, and/or one or more airflow ports that are configured to receive an airflow within the cavity 18 and/or passive thermal management mechanisms, such as one or more cooling fins 502 projecting from the cover 500.

(38) In a first cover configuration 100 having an active thermal management mechanism shown in FIGS. 4-8, the cover 100 comprises an active thermal management system featuring an enclosed coolant tube 102 that is configured to carry a liquid coolant flow through the cover 100. The coolant tube has a liquid inlet port 104 and a liquid outlet port 106 that is interconnected with the vehicle's cooling system 24, e.g. a liquid cooling system that cools the vehicle battery pack 22 and/or the vehicle power electronics as illustrated in FIG. 8. The vehicle's cooling system 24 includes a pump or other fluid movement device that causes the liquid coolant to flow through the cooling tube. As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, the coolant tube follows a serpentine path through the cover, thereby increasing the length of the coolant tube and increasing the amount of thermal energy that can be absorbed from the cavity 18 by the coolant it flows through the cover. The cover may preferably be formed on a material with a high thermal conductivity, such as an aluminum or copper-based material, to provide adequate thermal transfer between the cavity 18 and the liquid coolant. Alternatively, the cover may be formed of a thermally conductive polymer.

(39) According to a second cover configuration 200 an active thermal management mechanism shown in FIG. 9, the cover 200 includes a thermoelectric device 202 which uses the Peltier effect to actively cool the cavity 18. An electrical voltage is applied to the thermoelectric device 202 such that a side 204 of the thermoelectric device 202 facing inwardly toward the cavity 18 is cooled while another side 206 of the thermoelectric device 202 facing outward is heated by the thermal energy removed from the cooled side 204. The thermoelectric device 202 may be used as the sole thermal management mechanism in the assembly 10 or combined with any one of the other described cover configurations 100, 300, 400, 500.

(40) In a third cover configuration 300 an active thermal management mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the assembly 10 further comprises an electrically nonconductive terminal position assurance (TPA) member 302 that encloses a portion of the DC terminals 14 and is in thermal communication with the DC terminals 14. The TPA member 302 comprises a coolant duct configured to carry a liquid coolant flow through the TPA member 302. The TPA member 302 provide s the benefit of removing thermal energy directly from the DC terminals 14 which are one of the primary heat sources within the cavity 18. The coolant duct has a liquid inlet port 304 and a liquid outlet port 306 that is interconnected with the vehicle's cooling system 24, e.g. a liquid cooling system that cools the vehicle battery pack 22 and/or the vehicle power electronics similar to the illustration of FIG. 8. The vehicle's cooling system 24 includes a pump that causes the liquid coolant to flow through the cooling duct. The cover 300 defines an aperture 308 through which the liquid inlet port 304 and the liquid outlet port 306 exit the cavity 18. In an alternative embodiment, the liquid inlet port 304 and the liquid outlet port 306 may be interconnected with a cooling system dedicated to cooling the assembly 10.

(41) A fourth cover configuration 400 having an active thermal management mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 12-14. The cover 400 is in pneumatic and thermal communication with the cavity 18. The cover 400 includes an airflow inlet port 402 though which airflow of air at the vehicle's ambient temperature enters the cavity 18 and an airflow outlet port 404 through which the airflow is exhausted from the cavity 18. The airflow inlet port 402 is interconnected to an airflow generating device of the vehicle, such as a ducted fan. The airflow through the cavity 18 removes some of the thermal energy from the cavity 18, thereby lowing the temperature within the cavity 18. An inner surface of the cover 400 defines a baffle 406 configured to direct the airflow within the cavity 18. The baffle 406 also includes a curved surface 408 that helps to create a turbulent airflow within the cavity 18. The cover 400 and the baffle 406 may be preferably formed of a dielectric polymer material to avoid short circuiting that may be caused by contact between the baffle 406 and any of the terminals within the cavity 18.

(42) A fifth cover configuration 500 having passive thermal management mechanism is illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16. The cover 500 is formed of a thermally conductive material such an aluminum or copper based material and has a number of parallel cooling fins 502 protruding from the cover 500. Alternatively, the cover 500 may be formed of a thermally conductive polymer. In this configuration the cavity 18 is filled with a dielectric thermally conductive potting material 504, such as an epoxy or silicone-based material that is in thermal communication with the cover 500. A silicone thermal grease may be applied intermediate the potting material 504 and the interior surface 506 of the cover 500.

(43) In an alternative embodiment, the cavity 18 may be filled with a dielectric phase changing material (PCM). A PCM is a substance with a high heat of fusion, e.g. paraffins or lipids. The PCM melts and solidifies at a near constant temperature and can store and releasing large amounts of thermal energy. Heat is absorbed within the cavity 18 as the PCM gradually changes from a solid state to a liquid state when power is flowing through the terminals 14, 20 and then heat is gradually released through the cover 500 as the PCM changes from the liquid state back to the solid state when power is no longer flowing through the terminals 14, 20.

(44) The potting material 504 and the phase change material used must have a breakdown voltage that is higher than the charging voltage of the vehicle charging system to which the assembly 10 is connected.

(45) Alternative embodiments of the assembly 10 may be envisioned combining various elements described above. For example, the thermal potting material 504 or PCM of the fifth cover configuration 500 may be incorporated into the first, second or third cover configurations 100, 200, 300. In alternative embodiments, the cooling fins 502 of the fifth cover configuration 500 could be integrated into the first, second, third, or fourth cover configuration 100, 200, 300, 400.

(46) In a sixth cover configuration 600, an active thermal management mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 17 through 24B, the cover 600 is in intimate thermal and physical contact with busbars that are a part of the DC terminals 14 within the cavity 18. As shown in FIG. 18, the cover 600 includes a top cover 626 having a liquid inlet port 604 and a liquid outlet port 606 that is interconnected with the vehicle's cooling system 24, e.g. a liquid cooling system that cools the vehicle battery pack 22 and/or the vehicle power electronics similar to the illustration of FIG. 8. The vehicle's cooling system 24 includes a pump that causes the liquid coolant to flow through the cooling duct. In an alternative embodiment, the liquid inlet port 604 and the liquid outlet port 606 may be interconnected with a cooling system dedicated to cooling the assembly 10. The top cover 626 may be advantageously formed of a polymeric material to reduce weight of the top cover 626 and provide better electrical isolation compared to a metal top cover 626.

(47) As shown in FIG. 19, the cover 600 also includes a bottom cover 628 that defines a coolant duct having a plurality of cooling fins 630 that define a plurality of coolant channels 632, best illustrated in FIG. 20, through which a liquid coolant flows from the liquid inlet port 604 to the liquid outlet port 606. The bottom cover 628 may be advantageously formed of a metallic material to optimize heat transfer between the cooling fins 630 and the liquid coolant. As illustrated in FIG. 20, it is the bottom cover 628 that is in intimate thermal contact with the busbar portion of the DC terminals 14. The bottom cover 628 further includes a dielectric thermal interface material layer 634, such as THERM-A-GAP™ GEL 30 distributed by Parker Chomerics of Woburn, Mass., that is in direct contact with the DC terminals 14 and an additional dielectric material layer 636, such as ISOEDGE PR4305 distributed by Henkel Corporation of Warren, Mich., that is disposed intermediate the dielectric thermal interface material layer 634 and the coolant channels 632. The dielectric thermal interface material layer 634 and the additional dielectric material layer 636 provide robust electrical isolation between the busbar portion of the DC terminals 14 and the metallic bottom cover 628.

(48) The cover 600 also includes a primary coolant seal 638 between the top cover 626 and the bottom cover 628 and a secondary seal 640 between the cover 600 and the cavity 18 to ensure that the liquid coolant does not enter the cavity 18. The primary and secondary seals 638, 640 are advantageously formed of a compliant material, such as a silicone-based rubber material. The primary and secondary seals 638, 640 inhibit ingress of the liquid coolant into the cavity 18 that could cause a short circuit between the DC terminals 14.

(49) Experimental results of the cooling performance of the cover 600 are shown in FIGS. 21-24B. FIG. 21 shows the temperature 642 of one of the electrical terminals 12, the temperature 644 of one of the terminals 14, and the inlet coolant temperature 646 as the assembly 10 is operated with a current of 500 amperes. FIG. 22 shows the temperature 648 of one of the electrical terminals 12, the temperature 650 of one of the terminals 14, and the inlet coolant temperature 652 as the assembly 10 is operated with a current of 500 amperes. FIG. 23 shows a comparison of the temperature 654 of one of the electrical terminals 12 and the temperature 656 of one of the terminals 14 with a cover having passive cooling, such as cover 100 with the temperature 658 of one of the electrical terminals 12, the temperature 660 of one of the terminals 14, and the inlet coolant temperature 662 as the assembly 10 under similar operating conditions. FIG. 24A shows the thermal gradient between the liquid inlet port 604 and the liquid outlet port 606 of the top cover 626 when the dissipated power is 100 watts. FIG. 24B shows the thermal gradient between the terminals 14 and the top cover 626 when the dissipated power is 100 watts.

(50) As shown in FIG. 26, the busbars 14 each have a rectangular cross section defining two opposed major surfaces and two opposed minor surfaces. Planar surfaces 664 are defined by the two upper major surfaces of the busbars 14. The cover 600 forms a cooling plate 600 that is sized, shaped, and arranged to be in conductive thermal contact with the planar surfaces 664 of the busbars 14. The cooling plate 600 is configured to reduce the temperature of the busbars 14 when the assembly 10 is conducting electrical power. The second cover portion 628 has a planar outer surface 668 that is in conductive thermal contact with and is coplanar to the planar surfaces of the busbars 14. As used herein “conductive thermal contact” means that conduction is the primary mode of heat transfer between the busbars 14 and the cooling plate 600, i.e. the percentage of heat transfer by conduction is greater than the percentage of heat transfer by radiation or convection and may be greater than the percentage of heat transfer by radiation and convection. In the non-limiting example illustrated in FIGS. 26-28, the planar outer surface 668 of the cooling plate 600 is in intimate physical contact with the dielectric thermal interface material layer 634 which is in intimate physical contact with the planar surfaces 664 of the busbars 14.

(51) As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the cooling plate 600 is shaped, sized, and arranged such that the cooling plate 600 is in conductive thermal contact with the entirely of the planar surfaces 664 of the busbars 14 in order to maximize heat transfer between the busbars 14 and the cooling plate 600. The planar surfaces 664 of the busbars 14 are adjacent curved surfaces of the busbars 14 as shown in FIG. 26.

(52) While the illustrated embodiment of cover 600 is configured to conduct a liquid coolant, other embodiments of the cover 600 may be envisioned that are configured to conduct a gaseous coolant.

(53) Alternative embodiments may be envisioned which include features of several of the embodiments described above. Table 1 below describes at least some of the possible combinations.

(54) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Cover Configurations Cavity Cover Additional Type Contents Configuration Components Passive 1 Still Air Polymer None Passive 2 Thermal Potting Thermally Conduc- None Material tive Polymer Passive 3 Thermal Potting Externally None Material Finned Metal Passive 4 Phase Change Thermally Conduc- None Material tive Polymer Passive 5 Phase Change Externally None Material Finned Metal Passive 6 Still Air Thermally Conduc- Thermal Interface tive Polymer Material Passive 7 Still Air Externally Thermal Interface Finned Metal Material Active 1 Moving Air Polymer with None Ports and Baffles Active 2 Thermal Potting Cooling Plate None Material Active 3 Thermal Potting Cooling Plate Thermoelectric Material Device Active 4 Still Air Pass Trough Cooled Polymer Terminal Position Assurance Device Active 5 Still Air Pass Trough Cooled Metallic Isolated Terminal Position Assurance Device Active 6 Still Air Cooling Plate Thermal Interface Material Active 7 Still Air Cooling Plate Thermal Interface with Internal Material Layer, Fins Insulation Layer, Primary and Secondary Seals

(55) FIGS. 25A-25D illustrate an electrical connector assembly that includes temperature sensing capability for terminals within the assembly. An electrical temperature sensor is near the electrical terminals to improve thermal sensing response time for the terminals. Thermal contacts are used to bridge the distance between the terminal and the temperature sensors, thereby further improving improve thermal sensing response time for the terminals.

(56) As illustrated in the non-limiting examples of FIGS. 25B-25D, the electrical connector assembly 10 includes a printed circuit board 712 that has an electrical temperature sensor 714, such as a surface mounted thermistor mounted on the printed circuit board 712. The electrical connector assembly 10 also includes at least one terminal 716 that is disposed within an aperture 718 extending through the printed circuit board 712. The electrical connector assembly 10 further includes a thermally conductive contact spring 720 that is attached to the printed circuit board 712 in a location proximate to the electrical temperature sensor 714. As best shown in FIG. 25C, the electrical connector assembly 10 may additionally include a thermally conductive material 722 that covers a portion of the spring 720 where it is attached to the printed circuit board 712 and extends to also cover the electrical temperature sensor 714. The contact spring 720 may also be used to transmit electrical signals between the printed circuit board 712 and the terminal 716.

(57) The printed circuit board 712 may have several electrical temperature sensors 716 mounted thereon as shown in FIG. 25B and the electrical temperature sensors 716 may share a common ground circuit.

(58) While the illustrated example of the electrical connecter assembly 10 is a vehicle charging port, other embodiments of this invention may be envisioned for many other types of electrical connector assemblies.

(59) Accordingly, an electrical connector assembly 10 is provided. The assembly 10 provides the benefits of reducing the temperature of the busbars 14 in the assembly 10. The cooling plate is shaped, sized, and arranged to provide maximum cooling of the busbars 14 when the assembly 10 is conducting electrical power.

(60) While this invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments thereof, it is not intended to be so limited, but rather only to the extent set forth in the claims that follow. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to configure a situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. Dimensions, types of materials, orientations of the various components, and the number and positions of the various components described herein are intended to define parameters of certain embodiments and are by no means limiting and are merely prototypical embodiments.

(61) Many other embodiments and modifications within the spirit and scope of the claims will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the following claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

(62) As used herein, ‘one or more’ includes a function being performed by one element, a function being performed by more than one element, e.g., in a distributed fashion, several functions being performed by one element, several functions being performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.

(63) It will also be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. are, in some instances, used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first contact could be termed a second contact, and, similarly, a second contact could be termed a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. The first contact and the second contact are both contacts, but they are not the same contact.

(64) The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and/or” as used herein refers to and encompasses all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “includes,” “including,” “comprises,” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

(65) As used herein, the term “if” is, optionally, construed to mean “when” or “upon” or “in response to determining” or “in response to detecting,” depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase “if it is determined” or “if [a stated condition or event] is detected” is, optionally, construed to mean “upon determining” or “in response to determining” or “upon detecting [the stated condition or event]” or “in response to detecting [the stated condition or event],” depending on the context.

(66) Additionally, while terms of ordinance or orientation may be used herein these elements should not be limited by these terms. All terms of ordinance or orientation, unless stated otherwise, are used for purposes distinguishing one element from another, and do not denote any order of operations, direction or orientation unless stated otherwise.