Author: claimsbot

1. A method for changing the presentation of a current channel to another channel on a display in response to a viewer input received via a remote control, the method comprising:
presenting imagery on the display;
receiving the viewer input from the remote control; and
scrolling at least a portion of the imagery in response to the viewer input to thereby tune the other channel on the display.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the viewer input comprises a directional input.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the scrolling is in a direction corresponding to the directional input.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a program guide window on the display, wherein the program guide window initially comprises program guide information corresponding to the current channel.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the scrolling comprises scrolling the program guide information in the program guide window in response to the viewer input from the information corresponding to the current channel to information about the other channel.
6. The method of claim 5 further comprising tuning the other channel indicated by the displayed program guide information.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the scrolling comprises a line-by-line progression of the program guide information.
8. The method of claim 5 wherein the scrolling comprises a gradual progression of the program guide information while the viewer input continues.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising re-aligning the program guide information to the program guide window when the viewer input is discontinued.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising relating an amount of scrolling of the program guide information to an amount of viewer input.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the amount of scrolling increases in response to larger viewer inputs.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the other channel is tuned in response to a select instruction received from the remote control.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein the program guide window comprises a scroll indicator that moves in a direction indicated by the viewer input.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the scrolling comprises a gradual progression.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising tuning the current channel to obtain first channel imagery and also tuning a second channel adjacent to the current channel to obtain second channel imagery.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the scrolling comprises scrolling the second imagery over the first imagery.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising repeating the tuning and scrolling until the second imagery corresponds to the other channel.
18. A video receiver for presenting imagery on a display in response to viewer input signals provided from a remote control, the receiver comprising:
a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;
a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract a video signal;
a wireless receiver configured to receive the viewer input signals from the remote control; and
a processor configured to generate the imagery presented on the display, wherein the imagery comprises the extracted video signal, and wherein the processor is further configured to change a channel associated with the video signal to a desired channel in response to the viewer input signals by generating a program guide window on the display that initially comprises program guide information corresponding to a current channel, and wherein the program guide information scrolls in the program guide window in response to the viewer input to display other program guide information until the desired channel is indicated by the displayed subsequent program guide information.
19. The video receiver of claim 18 wherein the receiver interface comprises a satellite interface.
20. The video receiver of claim 18 wherein the receiver interface comprises a cable interface.
21. The video receiver of claim 18 wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive the two-dimensional input signal from a wireless remote control comprising a two-dimensional input device.
22. The video receiver of claim 21 wherein the two-dimensional input device is one of the group consisting of: a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, and a directional pad.
23. The video receiver of claim 18 wherein the processor is further configured to gradually scroll the program guide information while the viewer input continues.
24. The video receiver of claim 23 wherein the processor is further configured to re-align the program guide information to the program guide window when the viewer input is discontinued.
25. The video receiver of claim 18 further comprising relating an amount of scrolling of the program guide information to an amount of viewer input such that the amount of scrolling increases in response to larger viewer inputs.
26. A system for presenting television content on a display, the system comprising:
a wireless remote control configured to provide an input signal in response to a user input; and
a video receiver comprising:
a receiver interface configured to receive an incoming modulated signal;
a decoder configured to decode the incoming modulated signal to extract a television content;
a wireless receiver configured to receive the two-dimensional input signal from the wireless remote control; and
a processor configured to generate imagery to be presented on the display, wherein the imagery comprises the extracted television content, and wherein the processor is further configured to allow the viewer to change a channel associated with the television content to a desired channel in response by generating a program guide window that initially comprises program guide information corresponding to a current channel, and wherein the program guide information gradually scrolls in the program guide window in response to the viewer input to display other program guide information until the desired channel is indicated by the displayed subsequent program guide information.

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 sliding door assembly assemblable without fasteners and in which an upper guide assembly is substantially concealed, comprising:
a top guide track;
a bottom guide track spaced from the top guide track; and
at least one sliding door having its upper and lower ends slidably received in a portion of the top guide track and a portion of the bottom guide track, said at least one sliding door comprising:
a door panel having an outer periphery with a top edge, a bottom edge and pair of opposing side edges;
a top rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the top edge thereof;
a bottom rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the bottom edge thereof;
a pair of stile sections compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the pair of opposing side edges, said door panel integrating the stile sections and rails into a frame extending about said panel;
at least one bottom roller mechanism seated in the bottom rail, said at least one bottom roller mechanism being slidably received on the bottom guide track; and
at least one top roller mechanism frictionally fitted to the top rail, said at least one top roller mechanism being slidably received within the top guide track, said top roller mechanism being concealed by said top guide track.
2. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bottom roller mechanism is compression fitted into the the bottom rail.
3. The sliding door assembly according to claim 2, wherein said at least one bottom roller mechanism is substantially concealed within the bottom rail.
4. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said at least one bottom roller mechanism comprises:
a mounting bracket for securing the bottom roller mechanism to the bottom rail; at least one roller assembly; and
an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the mounting bracket, whereby adjustment of the adjustment mechanism adjusts the vertical position of the door assembly with respect to the bottom guide track.
5. The sliding door assembly according to claim 4, wherein each adjustment mechanism comprises:
a lever arm pivotally connected to the mounting bracket; and
an adjustment device for pivoting the lever arm with respect to the mounting bracket, and wherein the at least one roller assembly is secured to one end of the lever arm.
6. The sliding door assembly according to claim 5, wherein adjustment of the adjustment device adjusts the positioning of the at least one roller assembly with respect to the door panel.
7. The sliding door assembly according to claim 6, wherein the adjustment device includes a screw assembly, wherein a portion of the screw assembly is disposed within the lever arm, and wherein another portion of the screw assembly is adjustably secured to the mounting bracket.
8. The sliding door assembly according to claim 4, wherein the mounting bracket is compression fitted into the bottom rail.
9. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the top rail is compression fitted onto the door panel along the top edge.
10. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one top roller mechanism is compression fitted into the top rail.
11. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein said top roller mechanism comprises:
a mounting bracket for securing the top roller mechanism to the top rail; at least one roller assembly; and a support structure for rotatably supporting said at least one roller assembly thereon, wherein the support structure is connected to the mounting bracket.
12. The sliding door assembly according to claim 11, wherein the mounting bracket is compression fitted into the top rail.
13. The sliding door assembly according to claim 11, wherein the top guide track includes at least one downwardly opening channel, and wherein at least the roller assembly of the top roller mechanism is received within said at least one downwardly opening channel.
14. The sliding door assembly according to claim 13, wherein said at least one roller assembly and at least a portion of the top rail and the door panel are received within the downwardly opening channel.
15. The sliding door assembly according to claim 11, wherein the top guide track includes at least one upwardly opening channel, and wherein the roller assembly of the top roller mechanism is received within the upwardly opening channel.
16. The sliding door assembly according to claim 15, wherein there is a pair of sliding doors and said sliding doors are laterally spaced in said at least one upwardly opening channel.
17. The sliding door assembly according to claim 16, wherein said top guide track includes a pair of upwardly opening channels, wherein said at least one roller assembly for one of the sliding doors is located in one of the upwardly opening channels and wherein said at least one roller assembly for another of the sliding doors is located in another of the upwardly opening channels.
18. The sliding door assembly according to claim 17, wherein one of the sliding doors is an inner sliding door positioned adjacent the top guide track and the other of the sliding doors is an outer sliding door positioned adjacent the inner sliding door, and wherein the support structure for said at least one mounting bracket is secured to the outer door and extends over the inner sliding door and the top roller mechanism secured to the inner sliding door.
19. The sliding door assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the stile sections is compression fitted onto the door panel along a respective side edge of the opposing edges, and wherein each stile section extends from the top rail to the bottom rail.
20. A sliding door assembly assemblable without fasteners and in which the upper guide assembly is substantially concealed comprising:
a top guide track;
a bottom guide track spaced from the top guide track; and
at least one sliding door having its upper and lower ends slidably received in a portion of the top guide track and a portion of the bottom guide track, each sliding door comprising:
a door panel having an outer periphery with a top edge, a bottom edge and pair of opposing side edges;
a top rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the top edge thereof;
a bottom rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the bottom edge thereof;
a pair of stile sections compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the pair of opposing side edges;
at least one bottom roller mechanism seated in the bottom rail, said at least one bottom roller mechanism being slidably received on the bottom guide track; said at least one bottom roller mechanism comprising a mounting bracket for securing the bottom roller mechanism to the bottom rail;
at least one roller assembly; and
an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to the mounting bracket, whereby adjustment of the adjustment mechanism adjusts the vertical position of the door assembly with respect to the bottom guide track;
a lever arm pivotally connected to the mounting bracket; and
an adjustment device for pivoting the lever arm with respect to the mounting bracket, and wherein said at least one roller assembly is secured to one end of the lever arm, said adjustment device adjusting the positioning of said at least one roller assembly with respect to the door panel, said adjustment device including a screw assembly, a portion of the screw assembly being disposed within the lever arm, another portion of said screw assembly being adjustably secured to the mounting bracket and
at least one top roller mechanism seated in the top rail, said at least one top roller mechanism being slidably received within the top guide track, said top roller mechanism being concealed by said top guide track.
21. A sliding door assembly assemblable without fasteners and in which the upper guide assembly is substantially concealed comprising:
a top guide track;
a bottom guide track spaced from the top guide track; and
at least one sliding door having its upper and lower ends slidably received in a portion of the top guide track and a portion of the bottom guide track, each sliding door comprising:
a door panel having an outer periphery with a top edge, a bottom edge and pair of opposing side edges;
a top rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the top edge thereof;
a bottom rail compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the bottom edge thereof;
a pair of stile sections compression fitted onto the door panel adjacent the pair of opposing side edges;
at least one bottom roller mechanism seated in the bottom rail, said at least one bottom roller mechanism being slidable received on the bottom guide track; and
at least one top roller mechanism seated in the top rail, said at least one top roller mechanism being slidable received within the top guide track, said top roller mechanism being concealed by said top guide track, said top roller mechanism comprising:
a mounting bracket for securing the top roller mechanism to the top rail;
at least one roller assembly; and
a support structure for rotatably supporting said at least one roller assembly thereon, said support structure being connected to the mounting bracket; said top guide track including at least one upwardly opening channel, said roller assembly of the top roller mechanism being received within the upwardly opening channel.

1. A semiconductor device comprising:
a semiconductor substrate;
an insulated gate transistor formed to the semiconductor substrate;
a diode formed to the semiconductor substrate; and
a first control transistor formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein a first current terminal of the insulated gate transistor is coupled to a cathode of the diode at a high potential side,
wherein a second current terminal of the insulated gate transistor is coupled to an anode of the diode at a low potential side, and
wherein the first control transistor is configured to turn off the insulated gate transistor by reducing a potential of a gate terminal of the insulated gate transistor when the diode conducts a first electric current.
2. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first sensing resistor formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the diode has a sensing anode terminal for outputting a second electric current proportional to the first electric current,
wherein the first sensing resistor is coupled between the anode and the sensing anode terminal of the diode,
wherein a control terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the anode of the diode,
wherein the first current terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the insulated gate transistor, and
wherein the second current terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the sensing anode terminal of the diode.
3. The semiconductor device according to claim 2, further comprising:
a second control transistor formed to the semiconductor substrate; and
a second sensing resistor formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the second control transistor is configured to turn off the insulated gate transistor by reducing the potential of the gate terminal of the insulated gate transistor when a third electric current flowing through the insulated gate transistor exceeds an allowable current value,
wherein the insulated gate transistor has a sensing current terminal for outputting a fourth electric current proportional to the third electric current,
wherein the second sensing resistor is coupled between the sensing current terminal of the insulated gate transistor and the second current terminal of the insulated gate transistor,
wherein a control terminal of the second control transistor is coupled to the sensing current terminal of the insulated gate transistor,
wherein a first current terminal of the second control transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the insulated gate transistor, and
wherein a second current terminal of the second control transistor is coupled to the second current terminal of the insulated gate transistor.
4. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first sensing resistor formed to the semiconductor substrate; and
a second sensing resistor formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the diode has a sensing anode terminal for outputting a second electric current proportional to the first electric current,
wherein a third electric current flows through the insulated gate transistor,
wherein the insulate gate transistor has a sensing current terminal for outputting a fourth electric current proportional to the third electric current,
wherein the first sensing resistor is coupled between the sensing anode terminal of the diode and the sensing current terminal of the insulated gate transistor,
wherein the second sensing resistor is coupled between the sensing current terminal and the second current terminal of the insulated gate transistor,
wherein a resistance of the first sensing resistor is greater than a resistance of the second sensing resistor,
wherein a control terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the sensing current terminal of the insulated gate transistor,
wherein the first current terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the gate terminal of the insulated gate transistor, and
wherein the second current terminal of the first control transistor is coupled to the anode of the diode.
5. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the insulated gate transistor is an insulated gate bipolar transistor or a vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor,
wherein the first current terminal of the insulated gate transistor is a collector terminal of the insulated gate bipolar transistor or a drain terminal of the vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and
wherein the second current terminal of the insulated gate transistor is an emitter terminal of the insulated gate bipolar transistor or a source terminal of the vertical metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
6. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the first control transistor is a bipolar transistor or a metal-oxide-semiconductor,
wherein the control terminal of the first control transistor is a base terminal of the bipolar transistor or a gate terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor,
wherein the first current terminal of the first control transistor is a collector terminal of the bipolar transistor or a drain terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and
wherein the second current terminal of the first control transistor is an emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor or a source terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
7. The semiconductor device according to claim 3,
wherein the second control transistor is a bipolar transistor or a metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor,
wherein the control terminal of the second control transistor is a base terminal of the bipolar transistor or a gate terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor,
wherein the first current terminal of the second control transistor is a collector terminal of the bipolar transistor or a drain terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor, and
wherein the second current terminal of the second control transistor is an emitter terminal of the bipolar transistor or a source terminal of the metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor.
8. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the first control transistor is located adjacent to the insulated gate transistor or the diode.
9. The semiconductor device according to claim 3,
wherein the second control transistor is located adjacent to the insulated gate transistor or the diode.
10. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an insulating trench formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the first control transistor is surrounded by the insulating trench.
11. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
an insulating trench formed to the semiconductor substrate; and
a buried insulating layer formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the first control transistor is isolated by the insulating trench and the buried insulating layer.
12. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a first highly-doped layer formed to the semiconductor substrate and located directly below the first control transistor,
wherein the first highly-doped layer has the same conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate and has an impurity concentration greater than that of the semiconductor substrate.
13. The semiconductor device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a second highly-doped layer formed to the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the second highly-doped layer has the same conductivity type as the semiconductor substrate and has an impurity concentration greater than that of the semiconductor substrate,
wherein the insulated gate transistor has a trench gate structure, and
wherein the second highly-doped layer is located between a channel layer and a drift layer of the insulated gate transistor.
14. The semiconductor device according to claim 1,
wherein the semiconductor device is mounted on a vehicle.
15. An inverter circuit comprising:
a plurality of semiconductor devices, each of which is defined in claim 1.
16. The inverter circuit according to claim 15,
wherein the plurality of semiconductor devices comprises six semiconductor devices and is configured to generate a three-phase alternating current output, and
wherein the six semiconductor devices are integrated in a single semiconductor chip.
17. The inverter circuit according to claim 15,
wherein the plurality of semiconductor devices comprises six semiconductor devices and is configured to generate a three-phase alternating current output,
wherein three of the six semiconductor devices are integrated in a first single semiconductor chip, and
wherein another three of the six semiconductor devices are integrated in a second single semiconductor chip.
18. The inverter circuit according to claim 15,
wherein each of the insulated gate transistor and the diode of each of the plurality of semiconductor devices is a vertical element in which an electric current flows in a direction normal to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and
wherein the plurality of semiconductor devices is isolated from each other by an insulating trench that penetrates through the semiconductor substrate in the direction.

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. An assay device comprising a plurality of detectable probes, wherein at least one of said detectable probes contains a particle that defines a hollow interior constituting from about 20% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle.
2. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said hollow interior constitutes from about 30% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle.
3. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 0.1 nanometers to about 1,000 microns.
4. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 0.1 nanometers to about 100 microns.
5. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 1 nanometer to about 10 microns.
6. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said particle has a spherical shape.
7. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said particle is formed from a polymer.
8. An assay device as defined in claim 7, wherein said particle is formed from a core polymer and a shell polymer.
9. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said particle is formed by electrostatic layer deposition.
10. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least on detectable probe further contains a label.
11. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein said particle is conjugated with a specific binding member.
12. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein the assay device is a flow-through assay device.
13. An assay device as defined in claim 1, wherein the assay device is a diffraction-based assay device.
14. A flow-through assay device for detecting an analyte in a test sample, said flow-through assay device comprising a detection zone immobilized with a receptive material, said detection zone being in fluid communication with detection probes containing particles that individually define a hollow interior constituting from about 20% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle, wherein said detection probes are capable of generating a detection signal while within said detection zone so that the amount of the analyte within the test sample is determined from said detection signal.
15. A flow-through assay device as defined in claim 14, wherein said hollow interior constitutes from about 30% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle.
16. A flow-through assay device as defined in claim 14, wherein said particles are conjugated with a specific binding member for the analyte.
17. A flow-through assay device as defined in claim 14, wherein said detection probes contain a label selected from the group consisting of chromogens, catalysts, fluorescent compounds, chemiluminescent compounds, phosphorescent compounds, radioactive compounds, direct visual labels, liposomes, and combinations thereof.
18. A diffraction-based assay device for detecting an analyte of interest in a test sample, said assay device comprising:
a substrate having a receptive material applied to at least one surface thereof, said receptive material being specific for the analyte;
detection probes containing particles that individually define a hollow interior constituting from about 20% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle; and
wherein upon exposing said substrate to the test sample, the analyte is capable of binding with said receptive material on said substrate to result in a detectable diffraction pattern upon subsequent exposure of said substrate to a light source.
19. A diffraction-based assay device as defined in claim 18, wherein said hollow interior constitutes from about 30% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle.
20. A diffraction-based assay device as defined in claim 18, wherein said substrate is selected from the group consisting of plastics, metal coated plastics and glass, functionalized plastics and glass, silicon wafers, metal oxides, glass, foils, and combinations thereof.
21. A diffraction-based assay device as defined in claim 18, wherein said substrate comprises a polymer film coated with a metal.
22. A diffraction-based assay device as defined in claim 21, wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, chromium, nickel, platinum, aluminum, iron, copper, titanium, zirconium, corresponding oxides of these metals, and combinations thereof.
23. A diffraction-based assay device as defined in claim 18, wherein said receptive material is printed in a pattern on said substrate, and wherein a blocking material is further applied to non-printed areas of said substrate.
24. A detectable probe for use in an assay device, wherein the detectable probe contains a particle that defines a hollow interior constituting from about 20% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle, said particle being conjugated with a specific binding member.
25. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein said hollow interior constitutes from about 30% to about 100% of the spatial volume occupied by said particle.
26. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 0.1 nanometers to about 1,000 microns.
27. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 0.1 nanometers to about 100 microns.
28. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein the average size of said particle ranges from about 1 nanometer to about 10 microns.
29. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein said particle has a spherical shape.
30. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein said particle is formed from a polymer.
31. A detectable probe as defined in claim 30, wherein said particle is formed from a core polymer and a shell polymer.
32. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein said particle is formed by electrostatic layer deposition.
33. A detectable probe as defined in claim 24, wherein said specific binding member is covalently bonded to said particle.