阅读说明：本技术 阀位信号发讯器 (Valve position signal transmitter ) 是由 薛岳钊 段延德 张辉 高健 于 2021-08-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供一种阀位信号发讯器,包括：与外部的电动阀门连接的磁性指针,磁性指针被电动阀门带动旋转；多组霍尔开关元件组,用于在感应到来自磁性指针的磁场时输出对应的导通信号；分别与多组霍尔开关元件组连接的处理器,用于根据来自各霍尔开关元件组的导通信号输出对应的阀位信号。本发明可以有效提高阀位信号的稳定性和精确度,降低安装制造成本和调试维护成本。(The invention provides a valve position signal transmitter, comprising: the magnetic pointer is connected with an external electric valve and is driven to rotate by the electric valve; the Hall switch element groups are used for outputting corresponding conducting signals when sensing the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer; and the processor is respectively connected with the plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups and is used for outputting corresponding valve position signals according to the conducting signals from the Hall switch element groups. The invention can effectively improve the stability and the accuracy of the valve position signal and reduce the installation and manufacturing cost and the debugging and maintenance cost.)

1. A valve position signal transmitter, comprising:

the magnetic pointer is connected with an external electric valve and is driven to rotate by the electric valve;

the Hall switch element groups are used for outputting corresponding conducting signals when sensing the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer;

and the processor is respectively connected with the plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups and is used for outputting corresponding valve position signals according to the conducting signals from the Hall switch element groups.

2. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 1, wherein the hall switch element set comprises a first hall switch element set, a second hall switch element set, a third hall switch element set, and a fourth hall switch element set;

the processor is specifically configured to:

when receiving a conducting signal from the first Hall switch element group, outputting an overrun valve position closing signal;

when receiving a conducting signal from the second Hall switch element group, outputting a closing position signal;

when a conducting signal from the third Hall switch element group is received, an opening position valve position signal is output;

and when receiving the conducting signal from the fourth Hall switch element group, outputting an opening overrun valve position signal.

3. The valve position signal transmitter according to claim 2,

the first Hall switch element group comprises a first Hall element and a second Hall element;

the second Hall switch element group comprises a third Hall element and a fourth Hall element;

the third Hall switch element group comprises a fifth Hall element and a sixth Hall element;

the fourth hall switching element group includes a seventh hall element and an eighth hall element.

4. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 3, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

and when receiving the conducting signal from the first Hall element or the conducting signal from the second Hall element, outputting an over-limit valve position closing signal.

5. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 3, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conducting signal from the third Hall element is received within a preset time threshold after the conducting signal from the fourth Hall element is received, outputting a valve position closing signal.

6. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 3, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conduction signal from the sixth Hall element is received within a preset time threshold after the conduction signal from the fifth Hall element is received, outputting an on-position valve position signal.

7. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 3, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conducting signal from the seventh Hall element or the conducting signal from the eighth Hall element is received, the opening and over-limit valve position signal is output.

8. The valve position signal transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

the protocol selection switch is connected with the processor and used for outputting a protocol selection signal to the processor;

the processor is specifically configured to: and outputting the valve position signal through a protocol corresponding to the protocol selection signal.

9. The valve position signal transmitter of claim 8, wherein the processor is specifically configured to:

when the protocol selection signal is a Modbus protocol signal, outputting the valve position signal through a Modbus protocol;

and when the protocol selection signal is a DP protocol signal, outputting the valve position signal through a DP protocol.

10. The valve position signal transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising:

and each relay is connected with the processor and corresponds to the valve position signal one by one, and is used for converting the valve position signal from the processor into a relay signal and outputting the relay signal.

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of valve control, in particular to a valve position signal transmitter.

Background

The valve core position signal of the electric gate valve or the butterfly valve is a key linkage signal in the sequential control of the control system, and the error of the valve core position signal can directly cause the logic analysis and judgment error of the control system, thereby causing the field equipment not to work normally.

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art spool position signal transmitter. As shown in fig. 1, a valve core position signal transmitter of an electric gate valve or a butterfly valve in the field mainly comprises a cam mechanism and a microswitch which are linked with a valve core. The contact of the micro-switch is on or off representing the position of the valve. The cam mechanical mechanism is linked with the valve core, the valve core moves to drive the cam to rotate, and the microswitch pressure cap is extruded in the rotating process of the cam, so that the contact of the microswitch is switched on or off to judge the position of the valve core. However, the prior art has the following disadvantages:

1) complicated installation and debugging

The sensitive distance of the microswitch is small, and repeated experiments are needed in the installation process to find the best action point.

2) The production cost is high

A special linkage cam mechanism is needed, and the production, the processing, the installation and the debugging are complex.

3) High failure rate

The micro switch acts by means of an elastic metal reed, and the metal has fatigue problems, so that the micro switch is high in failure rate, unstable and short in service life.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the invention mainly aims to provide a valve position signal transmitter, so as to effectively improve the stability and the accuracy of a valve position signal and reduce the installation and manufacturing cost and the debugging and maintenance cost.

In order to achieve the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a valve position signal transmitter, including:

the magnetic pointer is connected with an external electric valve and is driven to rotate by the electric valve;

the Hall switch element groups are used for outputting corresponding conducting signals when sensing the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer;

and the processor is respectively connected with the plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups and is used for outputting corresponding valve position signals according to the conducting signals from the Hall switch element groups.

In one embodiment, the hall switch element group comprises a first hall switch element group, a second hall switch element group, a third hall switch element group and a fourth hall switch element group;

the processor is specifically configured to:

when receiving a conducting signal from the first Hall switch element group, outputting an overrun valve position closing signal;

when receiving a conducting signal from the second Hall switch element group, outputting a closing position signal;

when a conducting signal from the third Hall switch element group is received, an opening position valve position signal is output;

and when receiving the conducting signal from the fourth Hall switch element group, outputting an opening overrun valve position signal.

In one embodiment, the first hall switching element group includes a first hall element and a second hall element;

the second Hall switch element group comprises a third Hall element and a fourth Hall element;

the third Hall switch element group comprises a fifth Hall element and a sixth Hall element;

the fourth hall switching element group includes a seventh hall element and an eighth hall element.

In one embodiment, the processor is specifically configured to:

and when receiving the conducting signal from the first Hall element or the conducting signal from the second Hall element, outputting an over-limit valve position closing signal.

In one embodiment, the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conducting signal from the third Hall element is received within a preset time threshold after the conducting signal from the fourth Hall element is received, outputting a valve position closing signal.

In one embodiment, the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conduction signal from the sixth Hall element is received within a preset time threshold after the conduction signal from the fifth Hall element is received, outputting an on-position valve position signal.

In one embodiment, the processor is specifically configured to:

and when the conducting signal from the seventh Hall element or the conducting signal from the eighth Hall element is received, the opening and over-limit valve position signal is output.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps:

the protocol selection switch is connected with the processor and used for outputting a protocol selection signal to the processor;

the processor is specifically configured to: and outputting a valve position signal through a protocol corresponding to the protocol selection signal.

In one embodiment, the processor is specifically configured to:

when the protocol selection signal is a Modbus protocol signal, outputting a valve position signal through a Modbus protocol;

and when the protocol selection signal is a DP protocol signal, outputting a valve position signal through the DP protocol.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises the following steps:

and the relays are connected with the processor and correspond to the valve position signals one to one, and are used for converting the valve position signals from the processor into relay signals and outputting the relay signals.

The valve position signal transmitter comprises a rotary magnetic pointer driven by an electrically operated valve, a plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups and a processor, wherein the Hall switch element groups output corresponding conducting signals when sensing a magnetic field from the magnetic pointer, the processor outputs corresponding valve position signals according to the conducting signals from the Hall switch element groups, and the processor is respectively connected with the plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below, and it is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art that other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art spool position signal transmitter;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a valve position signal transmitter in an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a dry contact in an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be embodied as a system, apparatus, device, method, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of: entirely hardware, entirely software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.), or a combination of hardware and software.

In view of the complex installation and debugging, high production cost and high failure rate in the prior art, the embodiment of the invention provides a valve position signal transmitter which comprises a magnetic valve position pointer, a non-contact Hall switch element, a processor, a protocol selection switch, a relay and the like. In the process of magnetic pointer motion, the physical position of magnetic pointer and hall switching element has taken place the change, when the two is close, hall switching element switches on, when the two is kept away from, hall switching element cuts off, the treater relies on the accurate case position of judging and output valve position signal of the on-off state of hall switching element on the different positions of analysis, very high market spreading value has, can effectively improve valve position signal's stability and accuracy, reduce installation manufacturing cost and debugging maintenance cost. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a valve position signal transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 2, the valve position signal transmitter includes:

and the magnetic pointer 9 is connected with an external electric valve, and the magnetic pointer 9 is driven by the electric valve to rotate.

Wherein, the initial installation position of the magnetic pointer 9 corresponds to the valve position intermediate state.

And the multiple groups of Hall switch element groups are used for outputting corresponding conducting signals when sensing the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer.

The hall switching element has no memory capability, is switched on by a magnetic field, is switched off by no magnetic field, and can detect the position of the magnetic pointer 9.

And the processor is respectively connected with the plurality of groups of Hall switch element groups and is used for outputting corresponding valve position signals according to the conducting signals from the Hall switch element groups.

As shown in fig. 2, the processor of the present invention has a power-off memory, can record the valve position signal in real time, and converts the valve position signal into a voltage signal or a current signal for output.

In one embodiment, the hall switch element group includes a first hall switch element group, a second hall switch element group, a third hall switch element group, and a fourth hall switch element group.

When the switching-on signal from the first Hall switch element group is received, the processor outputs a valve position switching-off and exceeding signal.

The second Hall switch element group represents a closing position valve position, and when the second Hall switch element group receives a conducting signal from the second Hall switch element group, the processor outputs a closing position valve position signal.

The third Hall switch element group represents an on-position valve position, and when the conducting signal from the third Hall switch element group is received, the processor outputs an on-position valve position signal.

The fourth Hall switch element group represents an opening overrun valve position, and when the conducting signal from the fourth Hall switch element group is received, the processor outputs an opening overrun valve position signal.

As shown in fig. 2, the first hall switching element group includes a first hall element 1 and a second hall element 2.

In specific implementation, the first Hall element 1 and the second Hall element 2 are installed in a close fit, and one of the Hall elements is closed, so that the valve position can be determined to be in an over-limit closing state.

When the processor receives the conducting signal from the first Hall element 1 or the conducting signal from the second Hall element 2, the processor outputs an over-limit valve closing signal. After the valve core is over-limited, if the valve core is reversely rotated, the magnetic pointer leaves the first Hall switch element group, the processor cuts off the over-limit closing signal, and the over-limit closing valve position signal disappears.

The second hall switching element group includes the third hall element 3 and the fourth hall element 4.

In specific implementation, the fourth hall element 4 represents the closing position, and the third hall element 3 is used for assisting in judging the movement direction of the valve position.

If the fourth Hall element 4 is conducted first and the third Hall element 3 is conducted later, the valve core moves towards the closing direction; therefore, when the processor receives the conducting signal from the fourth hall element 4 and then receives the conducting signal from the third hall element 3 within a preset time threshold, the processor outputs and keeps the closing bit position signal.

After the valve is closed, the valve core continues to move along the original direction. The processor judges the motion direction of the valve core through logic. Although the Hall elements in the second Hall switch element group representing the closing position are disconnected, the processor still outputs a closing position valve position signal; before receiving the conducting signal from the first Hall switch element group, the signal of closing the position valve can not disappear.

If the third Hall element 3 is conducted first and the fourth Hall element 4 is conducted later, the valve core moves towards the opening direction; therefore, when the processor receives the conduction signal from the fourth hall element 4 and does not receive the conduction signal from the third hall element 3 within the preset time threshold, or the processor receives the conduction signal from the third hall element 3 first and then receives the conduction signal from the fourth hall element 4, the processor cuts off the off-position-valve-position signal.

The third hall switching element group includes a fifth hall element 5 and a sixth hall element 6.

In specific implementation, the fifth hall element 5 represents the closing position, and the sixth hall element 6 is used for assisting in judging the movement direction of the valve position.

If the fifth Hall element 5 is conducted first and the sixth Hall element 6 is conducted later, the valve core moves towards the opening direction; therefore, when the processor receives the conducting signal from the fifth hall element 5 and then receives the conducting signal from the sixth hall element 6 within the preset time threshold, the processor outputs and maintains the open-position valve position signal.

After the valve core is opened in place, the valve core continues to move along the original direction. The processor judges the motion direction of the valve core through logic. Although the Hall elements in the third Hall switch element group representing the opening in position are disconnected, the processor still outputs an opening valve position signal; and before receiving the conducting signal from the fourth Hall switch element group, the opening valve position signal does not disappear.

If the sixth Hall element 6 is conducted first and the fifth Hall element 5 is conducted later, the valve core moves towards the closing direction; therefore, when the processor receives the conduction signal from the fifth hall element 5 and does not receive the conduction signal from the sixth hall element 6 within the preset time threshold, or the processor receives the conduction signal from the sixth hall element 6 first and then receives the conduction signal from the fifth hall element 5, the processor cuts off the on-position signal.

The fourth hall switching element group includes a seventh hall element 7 and an eighth hall element 8.

In specific implementation, the seventh hall element 7 and the eighth hall element 8 are installed in a close proximity, and one of the hall elements is closed, so that the valve position can be determined to be in an opening overrun state.

When the processor receives the conducting signal from the seventh hall element 7 or the conducting signal from the eighth hall element 8, the processor outputs an over-limit valve position opening signal. After the overrun is started, if the valve core rotates reversely, the magnetic pointer leaves the fourth Hall switch element group, the processor cuts off the overrun opening signal, and the overrun opening valve position signal disappears.

As shown in fig. 2, the valve position signal transmitter further includes:

and the relays are connected with the processor and correspond to the valve position signals one to one, and are used for converting the valve position signals from the processor into relay signals and outputting the relay signals.

As shown in fig. 2, the valve position signal transmitter includes an over-limit-closed valve position signal relay 11 for converting the over-limit-closed valve position signal into a relay signal, an over-limit-closed valve position signal relay 12 for converting the over-limit-closed valve position signal into a relay signal, an over-limit-opened valve position signal relay 13 for converting the over-limit-opened valve position signal into a relay signal, and an over-limit-opened valve position signal relay 14 for converting the over-limit-opened valve position signal into a relay signal.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a dry contact in an embodiment of the invention. As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the over-limit-closing valve position signal relay 11 includes a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2, a first transistor T1, a first dry contact K1, and a first indicator LED 1.

A first end of the first resistor R1 is connected with the processor, and a second end of the first resistor R1 is connected with the base of the first transistor T1; an emitter of the first transistor T1 is grounded, and a collector of the first transistor T1 is connected to a second terminal of the first dry contact K1 and a second terminal of the second resistor R2, respectively; a first end of the first dry contact point K1 is connected to a first end of the voltage VGG and the first indicator LED1, respectively; the first terminal of the first indicator LED1 is also connected to the voltage VGG, and the second terminal of the first indicator LED1 is connected to the first terminal of the second resistor R2.

The off-position signal relay 12 includes a third resistor R3, a fourth resistor R4, a second transistor T2, a second dry contact K2, and a second indicator LED 2.

A first end of the third resistor R3 is connected with the processor, and a second end of the third resistor R3 is connected with the base of the second transistor T2; the emitter of the second transistor T2 is grounded, and the collector of the second transistor T2 is connected to the second terminal of the second dry contact K2 and the second terminal of the fourth resistor R4, respectively; a first end of second dry contact K2 is connected to a first end of voltage VGG and second indicator light LED2, respectively; the first terminal of the second indicator LED2 is also connected to the voltage VGG, and the second terminal of the second indicator LED2 is connected to the first terminal of the fourth resistor R4.

The open-to-position valve position signal relay 13 includes a fifth resistor R5, a sixth resistor R6, a third transistor T3, a third dry contact K3, and a third indicator light LED 3.

A first end of the fifth resistor R5 is connected with the processor, and a second end of the fifth resistor R5 is connected with the base of the third transistor T3; an emitter of the third transistor T3 is grounded, and a collector of the third transistor T3 is connected to a second terminal of the third dry contact K3 and a second terminal of the sixth resistor R6, respectively; a first end of the third dry contact point K3 is connected to a first end of the voltage VGG and the third indicator light LED3, respectively; the first terminal of the third indicator LED3 is also connected to the voltage VGG, and the second terminal of the third indicator LED3 is connected to the first terminal of the sixth resistor R6.

The opening overrun valve position signal relay 14 comprises a seventh resistor R7, an eighth resistor R8, a fourth transistor T4, a fourth dry contact K4 and a fourth indicator light LED 4.

A first end of the seventh resistor R7 is connected with the processor, and a second end of the seventh resistor R7 is connected with the base of the fourth transistor T4; an emitter of the fourth transistor T4 is grounded, and a collector of the fourth transistor T4 is connected to the second terminal of the fourth dry contact K4 and the second terminal of the eighth resistor R8, respectively; a first end of the fourth dry contact point K4 is connected to a first end of the voltage VGG and the fourth indicator LED4, respectively; the first terminal of the fourth indicator LED4 is also connected to the voltage VGG, and the second terminal of the fourth indicator LED4 is connected to the first terminal of the eighth resistor R8.

As shown in fig. 2, the valve position signal transmitter further includes:

a protocol selection switch 10 connected to the processor for outputting a protocol selection signal to the processor; the processor is specifically configured to: and outputting a valve position signal through a protocol corresponding to the protocol selection signal.

The protocol selection switch 10 includes a switch SA, a fifth indicator LED0 and a ninth resistor R0.

A first end of the switch SA is connected with the voltage VGG, and a second end of the switch SA is respectively connected with a first end of the fifth indicator light LED0 and the processor; the first end of the fifth indicator light LED0 is also connected with the processor, and the second end of the fifth indicator light LED0 is connected with the first end of a ninth resistor R0; the second terminal of the ninth resistor R0 is connected to ground.

When the switch SA is disconnected, the protocol selection signal is a Modbus protocol signal, and the processor outputs a valve position signal through the Modbus protocol;

when the switch SA is closed and the protocol selection signal is a DP protocol signal, the processor outputs a valve position signal through the DP protocol.

The specific process of the embodiment of the invention is as follows:

1. the magnetic pointer is driven by the electric valve to rotate to an over-limit closing valve position, a first Hall switch element group positioned at the over-limit closing valve position senses a magnetic field from the magnetic pointer, and a corresponding conduction signal is output to the processor.

2. The processor receives the conducting signal from the first Hall element or the conducting signal from the second Hall element and outputs an overrun valve position closing signal.

3. The magnetic pointer is driven by the electric valve to rotate to the closed valve position, the second Hall switch element group positioned at the closed valve position senses the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer, and outputs a corresponding conduction signal to the processor.

4. And the processor receives the conduction signal from the third Hall element within a preset time threshold after receiving the conduction signal from the fourth Hall element, and outputs a valve position closing signal.

5. The magnetic pointer is driven by the electric valve to rotate to the opening valve position, the third Hall switch element group positioned at the opening valve position senses the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer, and outputs a corresponding conduction signal to the processor.

6. And the processor receives the conduction signal from the sixth Hall element within a preset time threshold after receiving the conduction signal from the fifth Hall element, and outputs an on-position valve position signal.

7. The magnetic pointer is driven by the electric valve to rotate to the position for opening the overrun valve, and the fourth Hall switch element group positioned at the position for opening the overrun valve senses the magnetic field from the magnetic pointer and outputs a corresponding conduction signal to the processor.

8. And the processor receives the conducting signal from the seventh Hall element or the conducting signal from the eighth Hall element and outputs an opening and overrun valve position signal.

9. And the processor converts the valve position signal into a voltage signal or a current signal and then outputs the voltage signal or the current signal.

10. The relay converts the valve position signal from the processor into a relay signal and outputs the relay signal.

11. When the switch SA is disconnected, the protocol selection switch outputs a Modbus protocol signal to the processor, and the processor outputs a valve position signal through the Modbus protocol;

when the switch SA is closed, the protocol selection switch outputs a DP protocol signal to the processor, and the processor outputs a valve position signal through the DP protocol.

In conclusion, the valve position signal transmitter is installed in the valve body, can be used for replacing a cam mechanism and a microswitch structure of a mechanical electric gate valve or a butterfly valve, overcomes the defects of high production and manufacturing cost, complex installation and debugging, low reliability and short service life in the prior art, can effectively improve the stability and the accuracy of a valve position signal, improves the reliability of a control system, and reduces the installation and manufacturing cost and the debugging and maintenance cost.

The above-mentioned embodiments are intended to illustrate the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention in further detail, and it should be understood that the above-mentioned embodiments are only exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements and the like made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, units, and steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, elements, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design requirements of the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present embodiments.

The various illustrative logical blocks, or elements, or devices described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a digital signal processor and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a digital signal processor core, or any other similar configuration.

The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. A software module may be stored in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. For example, a storage medium may be coupled to the processor such the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC, which may be located in a user terminal. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside in different components in a user terminal.

In one or more exemplary designs, the functions described above in connection with the embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination of the three. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or transmitted over as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes both computer storage media and communication media that facilitate transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. For example, such computer-readable media can include, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store program code in the form of instructions or data structures and which can be read by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Additionally, any connection is properly termed a computer-readable medium, and, thus, is included if the software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source via a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or wirelessly, e.g., infrared, radio, and microwave. Such discs (disk) and disks (disc) include compact disks, laser disks, optical disks, DVDs, floppy disks and blu-ray disks where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while disks usually reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above may also be included in the computer-readable medium.