Claims:
1. A method for determining length of a tube (101), the method comprising:
transmitting, by a signal generating unit (102), a signal into the tube (101) at different frequencies;
receiving, by a computing unit (103), a reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted through a receiving unit (104);
determining, by the computing unit (103), a frequency-amplitude relationship, based on maximum amplitude of the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies;
determining, by the computing unit (103), natural frequency of an air column in the tube (101) based on at least two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship; and
determining, by the computing unit (103), length of the tube (101) based on the determined natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is a sound wave.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving unit (104) is a probe, communicatively connectable to the computing unit (103).
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal generating unit (102) is positioned at one end of the tube (101) to transmit the signal into the tube (101).
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum amplitude of the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies, is determined based on a time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101) is a difference between two consecutive frequency values, which corresponds to two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship.
7. A system (100) for determining length of a tube (101), comprising:
a signal generating unit (102) positioned at one end of the tube (101), wherein the signal generating unit (102) is configured to transmit signal into the tube (101) at different frequencies;
a receiving unit (104), positioned adjacent to the signal generating unit (102), wherein the receiving unit (104) is configured to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted; and
a computing unit (103), communicatively coupled to the receiving unit (104), wherein the computing unit (103) is configured to:
receive, the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies, through the receiving unit (104);
determine, a frequency-amplitude relationship, based on maximum amplitude of the reflected signal, corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies;
determine, a natural frequency of an air column in the tube (101) based on at least two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship; and
determine, length of the tube (101) based on the determined natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101).

8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signal generating unit (102) is a speaker.

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receiving unit (104) is a probe.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the signal is a sound wave.

, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure in general relates to a field of measurements. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present disclosure relates to a method and a system for measuring length of tubes using acoustical signals. Further embodiments of the disclosure disclose the method and the system for measuring remnant length of the tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Generally, industrial manufacturing plants make use of large burners or other heat transfer means for combustion of air-fuel mixture, in order to cater to the requirements of heat energy for carrying out different industrial processes. Burners are usually mechanical devices utilized for mixing proper quantities of fuel and air, and also for maintaining a stable flame. Industrial process burners can be broadly classified into raw gas burners and pre-mix burners. In the raw gas burners, the fuel passes through an orifice or a tube and the fuel is injected directly into a combustion zone, where it mixes with air to form air-fuel mixture for combustion. Pre-mix burners are those in which, fuel and air are mixed in a tube, prior to combustion and are ignited at an end or at a tip of the tube. As combustion or ignition takes place at the tip of the tube in the pre-mix burners, the tip portion may be subjected to extreme fatigue, temperatures and over time combustion may cause corrosion. This fatigue and corrosion may lead to thinning of the material, resulting in breakage of the tip or disintegration of the tip of the tube into multiple pieces. The disintegrated pieces of the tube may fall into the combustion chamber and may get mixed with the material to be combusted, affecting the quality of the material, which is undesired.

Usually in lime plants, a plurality of tubes or lances are adapted to carryout combustion for decomposing lime in a lime kiln. One of the essential factors for uniform decomposition of the lime is that tip ends of each of the plurality of tubes are to be at a same level, thereby forming an isotherm plane. As combustion takes place at the tip of the tube, temperature at the tip of tube ranges from 650°C to 950 °C. Additionally, the tip may be subjected to thermal and stress loadings due to external temperature, as well as burden movement of limestone. This may result in erosion of the tube from an exterior surface, leading to thinning at the location near the tip, as a result of which the thinned structure gets separated from the tubes, resulting in a reduction of the length of the tube. The broken part of the structure moves along with the lime and will be carry forwarded to other plants affecting the process. Also, the tube with reduced length causes the shift of ideal isotherm plane. This affects quality of the lime produced, which is due to over burning of the lime at the locations where the length of the tube is reduced.

Conventionally, in order to prevent mixing of broken parts of the tube with the lime in the lime kiln, the plurality of tubes were replaced regularly over certain period of time, based on the estimated life of the tubes. However, following time intervals for replacing the tubes increases the possibilities of replacing the tube prematurely, even though there exists no significant reduction in the length of the tubes, which escalates manufacturing cost.

Considering the above, and with advent of technology, measuring anomalies in the tubes in a non-destructive way have been developed. US227550, incorporates a hollow cylindrical waveguide which fits with minimal clearance between its outer diameter and tubing internal diameter. Guided waves are generated in the waveguide using either magneto strictive or piezoceramic element. At an interaction zone between the tubing and the waveguide, shear couplant is used to transfer part of the guided wave energy. The reflected guided wave energy is used to detect anomalies in the structure.

Similarly, US 9,170,239 B2, incorporates a magneto strictive sensor (MSS) technology in a guided wave testing (GWT) for inspecting and monitoring the presence of discontinuities in a long length pipeline. A common implementation of this method uses primarily torsional waves (T-waves) that are generated in a thin ferromagnetic strip placed around and coupled to the pipeline under test. The waves propagate along the pipeline and are partially reflected by geometric irregularities present in the pipeline such as welds or corrosion defects, and thus anomalies are detected.

US Patent 225507, incorporates acoustic emission signals from the acoustic events created by a leak or discontinuity in the pipeline, which is captured using sensor for sound waves such as, fibre optic interferometric distributed acoustic sensor or a sensor for pressure waves such as a piezoelectric device. The sensors show anomalies in the reading at the location of discontinuity to eliminate any faulty readings.

These conventional techniques, make use of interior walls of hollow structures by using fibre optic cables inserted in the tube for detecting acoustic signals, temperature monitoring and externally transmitting guided waves to the structure for detecting anomalies like cracks, corrosion patches and wall thinning. Further, some conventional techniques, include making use of the target tube itself as a waveguide by exciting either by an array of piezoelectric elements or magneto strictive means for generation of guided waves. These techniques create complications when measuring the length of structures where the ends are corroded and wall thinning phenomenon can be observed from a significant distance from the end making the guided wave energy die even before reaching the end of the structure.

The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations stated above or any other limitation associated with the prior arts.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

One or more shortcomings of the prior art are overcome by method as disclosed and additional advantages are provided through the method as described in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the technique of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the claimed disclosure.

In one non-limiting embodiment, there is provided a method for determining length of a tube. The method includes transmitting, a signal into the tube at different frequencies, by a signal generating unit. Further, a reflected signal corresponding to a signal transmitted is received by a computing unit, through a receiving unit. Upon receiving reflected signal, the computing unit determines a frequency-amplitude relationship, based on maximum amplitude of the reflected signal. Once, the frequency-amplitude relationship is determined natural frequency of an air column in the tube is determined by the computing unit. Based on the determined natural frequency of the air column, length of the tube may be determined.
In an embodiment, the signal is a sound wave.
In an embodiment, the receiving unit is a probe, which is communicatively connectable to the computing unit.
In an embodiment, the signal generating unit is positioned at one end of the tube to transmit the signal into the tube.
In an embodiment, the maximum amplitude of the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies, is determined based on the time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal.
In an embodiment, natural frequency of the air column in the tube is a difference between two consecutive frequency values, which corresponds to two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship.
In an embodiment, length of the tube is inversely proportionate to the natural frequency of the tube, with velocity of the signal being constant.
In another non-limiting embodiment, a system for determining a length of the tube is disclosed. The system includes a signal generating unit, which is positioned at one end of the tube. The signal generating unit is configured to transmit signals into the tube, at different frequencies. Further, the system includes a receiving unit, which is positioned adjacent to the signal generating unit. The receiving unit is configured to receive a reflected signal corresponding to a signal transmitted at different frequencies. Additionally, the system includes a computing unit, which is communicatively coupled to the receiving unit. The computing unit is configured to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies, through a receiving unit and determine a frequency-amplitude relationship, based on maximum amplitude of the reflected signal. Furthermore, the computing unit is configured to determine a natural frequency of the tube based on at least two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship, and determine length of the tube based on the determined natural frequency of the tube.
In an embodiment, the signal generating unit is a speaker.

In an embodiment, the receiving unit is a probe.
In an embodiment, the signal is a sound wave.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES

The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended description. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:

Figure.1 illustrates a schematic representation of a system for determining length of a tube, in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining length of the tube, using the system of Figure. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure. 3 is a graphical representation of frequency vs amplitude depicting frequency-amplitude relationship of a reflected signal corresponding to a signal transmitted at each periodic interval of time, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing has broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the description of the disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent methods do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the disclosure, as to method and system for determining length of a tube, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure.

In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure.

The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a method that comprises a list of acts does not include only those acts but may include other acts not expressly listed or inherent to such method. In other words, one or more acts in a method proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other acts or additional acts in the method.
Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a system and a method for measuring length of tubes, which are employed industrial plant such as steel industry, for example in a lime plants, cement industries, . Generally, in lime plants, a plurality of tubes or lances are adapted to carryout combustion for decomposing lime in a lime kiln. One of the essential factors for uniform decomposition of the lime, is that tips of each of the plurality of tubes are to be in same level, forming an isotherm plane. As combustion takes place at a tip of the tubes, temperature at the tips ranges from 650°C to 950 °C and the tubes are subjected to thermal and stress loadings, due to external temperature and movement of limestone, resulting in erosion of the tubes from exterior. The corrosive environment of the gases flowing inside the lance may lead to thinning at a location near the tip. This may lead to separation of material from the tubes, resulting in reduction of the length of the tubes. The tubes with reduced length in the lime kiln results in a shift of ideal isotherm plane, which affects the quality of the lime produced, due to over burning of the lime at the locations, where the length of the tube is reduced. The present disclosure is directed to determine length of the tubes, to ensure that length of the all the tubes are same and lie in same isotherm plane, for effective decomposition of lime.

The system of the present disclosure includes a signal generating unit, which may be positioned at one end of the tube, whose length is to the be measured/determined. The signal generating unit may be configured to generate and transmit acoustic signals at different frequencies into the tube. In an embodiment, the signal generating unit may be speaker, which may transmit sound/acoustical waves at different frequencies. Further, the system may include a receiving unit, which may be positioned within the tube. The receiving unit may be positioned adjacent to the signal generating unit. The receiving unit may be configured to receive a reflected signal corresponding to a signal transmitted by the signal generating unit. In an embodiment, the receiving unit may be a probe. Furthermore, the system may include a computing unit. The computing unit may be communicatively coupled to the receiving unit. In an embodiment, the computing unit may receive the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies. The computing unit may analyse characteristics of the reflected signal, for determining length i.e. remnant length of the tube.
In operation, the signal generating may transmit a signal at different frequencies into the tube. Since a signal is transmitted, a reflected signal may be generated within the tube, which may be received by the receiving unit. The reflected signal received by the receiving unit may be fed into the computing unit. The computing unit may be configured to determine frequency-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal, based on maximum amplitude of the reflected signal obtained from a time-amplitude relationship. Further, the computing unit based on the determined frequency-amplitude relationship, may determine natural frequency of an air column in the tube. Furthermore, the computing unit based on the natural frequency of the air column in the tube, may determine the length i.e. remnant length of the tube.
In the following detailed description, embodiments of the disclosure are explained with reference to accompanying figures that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
In order to overcome the limitations stated in the background, the present disclosure provides the following paragraphs which describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures. 1 to 3. In the figures, the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference signs. One skilled in the art would appreciate that the method, and the system as disclosed in the present disclosure can be used to determine length (i.e. remnant length) of the tube, adapted in manufacturing plants.

Figure. 1, illustrates a system (100) for detecting a length of a tube (101). As an example, the system (100) may be employed to measure length of the tubes in the industrial plants such as in a lime kiln of a lime plant. However, the same should not be construed as a limitation, as the system (100) may be employed to measure length of the tubes employed in different manufacturing plants such as cement manufacturing industries, copper industries, glass industries and the like. In an embodiment, the system (100) is illustrated with respect to one tube (101) of the plurality of tubes. As seen in Figure. 1, the system (100) may broadly include a signal generating unit (102), which may be positioned at an end of the tube (101). The signal generating unit (102) may be configured to generate and transmit a signal at different frequencies into the tube (101). In an embodiment, the signal generating unit (102) may be an acoustic speaker, which may transmit sound waves at different frequencies. Further, the system (100) may include a receiving unit (104), which may be positioned within the tube (101). The receiving unit (104) may be positioned adjacent to the signal receiving unit (104). The receiving unit (104) may be configured to receive a reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted by the signal generating unit (102), at different frequencies. In an embodiment, the receiving unit (104) may be a probe such as but not limiting to ultrasonic probe. As apparent from Figure. 1, the system (100) may include a computing unit (103). The computing unit (103) may be communicatively coupled to the receiving unit (104). In an embodiment, the computing unit (103) may receive the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted by the signal generating unit (102) at different frequencies. The computing unit (103) may analyse characteristics of the reflected signal and determine length i.e. remnant length of the tube (101).
Figure. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, which illustrates a flow chart depicting a method for determining a length of the tube (101). In the present disclosure, remnant length of the tubes may be determined in a simple and effective way thus incomplete decomposition of the materials in the manufacturing may be mitigated. The method is now described with reference to the flowchart blocks (201) and is as below. The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks (201) may be combined in any order to implement the method. Additionally, individual blocks (201) may be deleted from the methods without departing from the scope of the subject matter described herein.
As indicated at block 201, the signal generating unit (102) may transmit the signal into the tube (101) (i.e. whose remnant length is to be measured), at different frequency values. Once, the signal is transmitted into the tube (101), the reflected signal may be generated, which corresponds to a signal transmitted at different frequencies. At block 202, the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies into the tube (101), may be received by a receiving unit (104). Further, the reflected signal received by the receiving unit (104), may be transferred to a computing unit (103).
At block 203, the computing unit (103), upon receiving the reflected signal from the receiving unit (104), may determine a time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal, corresponding to the signal transmitted at different frequencies. Upon determining the time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal, maximum amplitude in the time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal, may be determined by the computing unit (103).

At block 204, the computing unit (103) may determine a frequency-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal, based on the determined maximum amplitude values from the time-amplitude relationship [as seen in block 203], of the reflected signal. In other words, the computing unit (103) may consider the maximum amplitude values from time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signals, to determine frequency-amplitude relationship. In an embodiment, the computing unit (103) may determine the frequency-amplitude relationship in form of a frequency vs amplitude plot (as seen in Figure. 3).

Once, the frequency-amplitude relationship is determined by the computing unit (103), the method includes a step of determining natural frequency of an air column in the tube (101) [shown in block 205]. In an embodiment, natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101) may be determined based on determined frequency-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal. Determining natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101) is now illustrated with respect to Figure. 3, which illustrates a determined frequency-amplitude relationship (i.e. frequency-amplitude plot) of the reflected signals. In an embodiment, the natural frequency is a difference between two consecutive frequency values, which correspond to two consecutive peak amplitudes in the determined frequency-amplitude relationship. As an example, as seen in Figure. 3, two consecutive amplitude values are 1700 mV and 1300 mV, which correspond to frequency values of 265 Hz and 220 Hz, respectively. Thus, natural frequency in the air column in the tube (101), will be difference of the consecutive frequencies i.e. difference between 265Hz and 220Hz.

At block 206, upon determining the natural frequency of the air column in the tube (101), which is open at both ends the method includes a step of determining the length i.e. remnant length of the tube (101). In an embodiment, length of the tube (101) is inversely proportionate to natural frequency of the air column in tube (101) with velocity of the signal transmitted into the tube (101), being constant. In other words, remnant length of the tube (101) is determined by a relation-

V-Velocity of the signal in air
L- Remnant length of the tube (101)

In an embodiment, the process shown in blocks 201 to 206 may be repeated to detect remnant length of the tube (101), continuously.
In an embodiment, the method of detecting length of the tube (101) may be carried out upon shutdown of the manufacturing plant.

In an embodiment, the method of the present disclosure may be employed to determine length of the tube (101) with one end closed. For the tube (101) with one end closed, the length of the tube (101) may be determined based on the natural frequency of the tube (101) and with the relation-

V-Velocity of the signal
L- Remnant length of the tube (101).

In an embodiment, the computing unit (103) may be interfaced with an oscilloscope [not shown in figures] for determining time-amplitude relationship of the reflected signal corresponding to the signal transmitted by the signal generating unit at different frequencies.

In an embodiment, the method and systems for measuring length (thus, remnant length) of tube accurately in a simple and inexpensive way, as the system adapts simple and fewer components for measuring the length.

In ana embodiment, the method and system of the present disclosure may facilitate in measuring length of tubes, operating at high temperatures.

In an embodiment of the disclosure, the computing unit may be a control unit or a dedicated control unit associated with the probe receiving the reflected signal. The control unit may be implemented by any computing systems that is utilized to implement the features of the present disclosure. The control unit may be comprised of a processing unit. The processing unit may comprise at least one data processor for executing program components for executing user- or system-generated requests. The processing unit may be a specialized processing unit such as memory management control units, floating point units, graphics processing units, digital signal processing units, etc. The processing unit may include a microprocessor, such as AMD Athlon, Duron or Opteron, ARM’s application, embedded or secure processors, IBM PowerPC, Intel’s Core, Itanium, Xeon, Celeron or other line of processors, etc. The processing unit may be implemented using a mainframe, distributed processor, multi-core, parallel, grid, or other architectures. Some embodiments may utilize embedded technologies like application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), etc.

In some embodiments, the control unit may be disposed in communication with one or more memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM etc.) via a storage interface. The storage interface may connect to memory devices including, without limitation, memory drives, removable disc drives, etc., employing connection protocols such as serial advanced technology attachment (SATA), integrated drive electronics (IDE), IEEE-1394, universal serial bus (USB), fiber channel, small computing system interface (SCSI), etc. The memory drives may further include a drum, magnetic disc drive, magneto-optical drive, optical drive, redundant array of independent discs (RAID), solid-state memory devices, solid-state drives, etc.

Furthermore, one or more computer-readable storage media may be utilized in implementing embodiments consistent with the present disclosure. A computer-readable storage medium refers to any type of physical memory on which information or data readable by a processor may be stored. Thus, a computer-readable storage medium may store instructions for execution by one or more processors, including instructions for causing the processor(s) to perform steps or stages consistent with the embodiments described herein. The term “computer-readable medium” should be understood to include tangible items and exclude carrier waves and transient signals, i.e., are non-transitory. Examples include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), volatile memory, non-volatile memory, hard drives, CD ROMs, DVDs, flash drives, disks, and any other known physical storage media.

It is to be understood that a person of ordinary skill in the art may develop a mechanism and a system of similar configuration without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Such modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.
EQUIVALENTS

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

Referral Numerals:

Referral Numerals Description
100 System
101 Tube
102 Signal generating unit
103 Computing unit
104 Receiving unit