Author: claimsbot

1. A programmable logic device (PLD), comprising:
a delay circuit, the delay circuit having a delay configured to represent a delay of a user circuit implemented in the programmable logic device (PLD), the delay circuit comprising at least one logic delay element and at least one routing delay element implemented using programmable circuitry in the PLD; and
a body-bias generator, the body-bias generator configured to adjust a body bias of a transistor within the user circuit in response to a level derived from a propagation delay of the delay circuit.
2. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 1, wherein the delay circuit comprises combinational logic.
3. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 1, further comprising a phase comparator, the phase comparator configured to compare a phase of an output signal of the delay circuit in response to a reference signal applied to an input of the delay circuit, and a phase of the reference signal.
4. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 3, wherein the comparator is further configured to provide a first output signal and a second output signal.
5. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 4, wherein, in response to the first output signal, the body-bias generator adjusts the body bias of the transistor so as to speed up an operation of the transistor.
6. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 4, wherein, in response to the second output signal, the body-bias generator adjusts the body bias of the transistor so as to slow down an operation of the transistor.
7. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 3, wherein the delay circuit comprises a configurable delay circuit.
8. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 7, wherein the propagation delay of the configurable delay circuit is configurable.
9. The programmable logic device (PLD) according to claim 1, wherein the user circuit comprises at least one programmable logic element and at least one programmable interconnect element.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A recording disk having a surface provided with guide tracks formed at a track pitch less than 0.5 m, and digital information recording parts formed in the guide grooves.
2. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the digital information recording parts have a concave shape.
3. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the digital information recording parts have a convex shape.
4. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein centers of the digital information recording parts coincide with a center of the guide grooves.
5. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein centers of the digital information recording parts are dislocated from a center of the guide grooves.
6. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the digital information recording parts have a depth different from that of the guide grooves.
7. The recording disk according to claim 1 to be used in combination with a recording device using techniques relating to probe microscopes.
8. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the digital information recording parts have a diameter different from the width of the guide grooves.
9. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the guide grooves are discontinuous.
10. The recording disk according to claim 1, wherein the recording disk is formed of a polycarbonate resin.
11. The recording disk according to claim 10, wherein the recording disk has a surface coated with a magnetic material, a magnetooptic material, a phase change material or an organic dye recording material.
12. The recording disk according to claim 11, wherein the recording disk has a surface coated with a protective film.
13. The recording disk according to claim 12, wherein the guide grooves are formed in a spiral.
14. The recording disk according to claim 12, wherein the guide grooves are formed in concentric circles.
15. A recording device comprising the recording disk according to claim 9, and a disk driving mechanism including ball bearings.
16. A recording device comprising the recording disk according to claim 9, and a disk driving mechanism including liquid bearings.
17. A recording medium comprising a medium having a surface provided with guide grooves for controlling the travel of a probe therein, and digital information recording parts formed in the guide grooves.
18. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the guide grooves have open ends of 0.5 m or below in width.
19. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the guide grooves are arranged at a pitch of 0.5 m or below.
20. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape concave toward the center of the guide grooves.
21. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape convex toward the center of the guide grooves.
22. The recording medium according to claim 1, wherein centers of the digital information recording parts coincide with a center of the guide grooves.
23. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein centers of the digital information recording parts are dislocated from a center of the guide grooves.
24. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital information recording parts have a depth different from that of the guide grooves.
25. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital information recording parts have a diameter different from the width of the guide grooves.
26. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the digital information recording parts are formed in the guide grooves.
27. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the recording medium is formed of a polycarbonate resin.
28. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the recording medium has a surface coated with a magnetic material, a magnetooptic material, a phase change material or an organic dye recording material.
29. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein
the recording medium has a surface coated with a protective film.
30. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the guide grooves are formed in a spiral.
31. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the guide grooves are formed in concentric circles.
32. The recording medium according to claim 17, wherein the guide grooves are discontinuous.
33. A recording medium comprising a disk having a surface provided with guide grooves for guiding a probe supported on a cantilever for traveling along the guide grooves, and digital information recording parts formed in the guide grooves;
wherein a laser beam reflected by a back surface of the cantilever opposite a front surface of the same on which the probe is held is measured to determine a dislocation of the probe from the center of the guide groove to control the travel of the probe, a distance of shift of the probe in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk caused by each digital information recording part is measured to read the digital information parts.
34. A recording medium comprising a disk having a surface provided with guide grooves for guiding a probe, and digital information recording parts formed in the guide grooves;
wherein the digital information recording parts causes the probe to shift in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk.
35. The recording medium according to claim 34, wherein the guide grooves have open ends of 0.5 m or below in width.
36. The recording medium according to claim 34, wherein the guide grooves are arranged at a pitch of 0.5 m or below.
37. The recording medium according to claim 34, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape concave toward the center of the guide grooves.
38. The recording medium according to claim 34, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape convex toward the center of the guide grooves.
39. A recording medium comprising a disk having a surface provided with guide grooves of U- or V-shaped cross section for guiding a probe for traveling, and digital information recording parts formed in the guide grooves;
wherein the guide grooves and the digital information recording parts differ from each other in width, a lateral force acting on the probe is detected to control the probe so as to be positioned on the center of the guide groove, and a distance of shift of the probe in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the disk caused by each digital information recording part is measured.
40. The recording medium according to claim 39, wherein the guide grooves have open ends of 0.5 m or below in width.
41. The recording medium according to claim 39, wherein the guide grooves are arranged at a pitch of 0.5 m or below.
42. The recording medium according to claim 39, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape concave toward the center of the guide grooves.
43. The recording medium according to claim 39, wherein the digital information recording parts have a shape convex toward the center of the guide grooves.
44. A recording device comprising the recording medium according to claim 39, and a recording medium driving mechanism for driving the recording medium;
wherein the recording medium driving mechanism includes ball bearings.
45. A recording device comprising the recording medium according to claim 39, and a recording medium driving mechanism for driving the recording medium;
wherein the recording medium driving mechanism includes liquid bearings.

1. A method of manufacturing a printed circuit board, the method comprising:
providing a substrate having a pad formed thereon;
forming a resist on the substrate, the resist having an opening formed therein such that the pad is exposed;
forming a metal post inside the opening such that the metal post is electrically connected to the pad;
forming a through-hole in the resist by removing a portion of the resist such that the through-hole surrounds the metal post; and
forming a solder layer inside the through-hole and on an upper surface of the metal post so as to cover an exposed surface of the metal post.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the through-hole is performed by a laser.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forming of the metal post is performed by way of plating.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising, prior to the forming of the metal post, forming a seed layer on the pad.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the forming of the solder layer, flattening an upper surface of the solder layer such that the upper surface of the solder layer becomes level.
6. A printed circuit board comprising:
a substrate having a pad formed therein;
a metal post formed on the pad such that the metal post is electrically connected to the pad;
a solder layer formed on a side of the metal post and an upper surface of the metal post so as to cover an exposed surface of the metal post.
7. The printed circuit board of claim 6, further comprising a seed being interposed between the pad and the metal post.
8. The printed circuit board of claim 6, wherein an upper surface of the solder layer is a planar surface.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A backstop comprising:
(a) a backstop frame;
(b) a net attached to the backstop frame;
(c) a strike zone comprised of collapsible material attached to the net by means allowing changes to the acoustical responses generated when the strike zone is struck;
(d) four or more vertical large diameter hollow supports that accept four or more vertical smaller diameter net holders, creating 2 finished vertical net supports;
(e) a net attached to the four vertical smaller diameter net holders;
(f) one or more ropes attached to the ground and to the finished vertical net supports; and
(g) one or more base pieces secured to the bottom of each finished vertical net support.
2. The backstop of claim 1, comprising means for attaching the net to the backstop frame allowing changes to the acoustical responses generated when the net is struck.
3. The backstop of claim 2, comprising two foul line ropes attached to the backstop.
4. The backstop of claim 3, comprising base markers attached to the foul line ropes.
5. The backstop of claim 4, comprising a carrying bag able to enclose the backstop frame, net, strike zone, strike zone holder, foul line ropes and base markers.
6. The backstop of claim 1, comprising finished vertical net supports having top caps with one or more openings allowing rope to pass through the top caps.
7. The backstop of claim 6, comprising a strike zone attached to a solid, single piece fastener which attaches into the backstop net.
8. The backstop of claim 7 comprising one or more tension cords attached to the strike zone and net, by means allowing adjustment to the acoustical responses generated when the strike zone is struck.
9. The backstop of claim 8 further comprising one or more tension cords attached to the net and backstop frame by means allowing adjustment to the acoustical responses generated when the net is struck.
10. The backstop of claim 9, for use with balls weighing less than 5 ounces.