Author: claimsbot

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus operable in a wet environment for controlling the brightness and color of a solid state light emitting diode, lamp assembly which is adapted to be coupled to an AC source for supplying an AC signal, comprising:
a solid state lamp assembly comprising a grouping of light emitting diodes;
a plurality of switching devices connected in series with the lamp assembly, light emitting diodes, the switching devices being operative in either a first state wherein significant current flow through the lamp assembly is prevented or a second state wherein current flow through the lamp assembly is substantially undisturbed;
user controls for providing lamp assembly brightness and color input signals;
controller means for receiving lamp assembly brightness and color input signals from the user controls, and for switching the switching devices between its first and second states in a predetermined sequence for inducing a pulse width modulation signal to the lamp assembly; and
isolation means for electrically isolating the user controls from the AC source, wherein the isolation means includes an impedance protected, step-down transformer.
2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the solid state lamp assembly comprises a plurality of Light emitting diodes (LED), consisting of a red LED coupled to first switching device, a green LED coupled to a second switching device and a blue LED coupled to a third switching device.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the solid state lamp assembly comprises a plurality of Light emitting diodes (LED), consisting of a plurality of red LEDs coupled to first switching device, a plurality of green LEDs coupled to a second switching device and a plurality of blue LEDs coupled to a third switching device.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the solid state lamp assembly comprises a single Light emitting diode (LED), emitting a plurality of colors being, red, green and blue, including a red color control coupled to a first switching device, a green color control coupled to a second switching device and a red color control coupled to a third switching device.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching device includes a transistor arrangement.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the switching device includes a field effect transistor arrangement.
7. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the user controls comprise switches coupled to the controller means.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the user controls comprise a radio receiver device coupled to the controller means.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller means comprises a microcontroller and pulse width modulator.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller means comprises a microcontroller with internally fabricated pulse width modulator.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the controller means comprises a microcontroller operating in a predetermined sequence which mimics the operation of a pulse width modulator.
12. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the isolation means comprises a step-down transformer.
13. A method for controlling the brightness and color of a solid state light emitting diode, lamp assembly, in a wet environment, which is adapted to be coupled to an AC source for supplying an AC signal, comprising:
a solid state lamp assembly comprising a grouping of light emitting diodes;
a plurality of switching devices connected in series with the lamp assembly, light emitting diodes, the switching devices being operative in either first state wherein significant current flow through the lamp assembly is prevented or a second state wherein current flow through the lamp assembly is substantially undisturbed;
user controls for providing lamp assembly brightness and color input signals;
controller means for receiving lamp assembly brightness and color input signals from the user controls, and for switching the switching devices between its first and second states in a predetermined sequence for inducing a pulse width modulation signal to the lamp assembly; and
isolation means for electrically isolating the user controls from the AC source, wherein the isolation means includes an impedance protected, step-down transformer;
the method comprising the steps of:
(a) detecting a user input control signal comprising lamp color and brightness data generating a series of pulse width modulator control variables
(b) activating pulse width modulator with control variables, enabling current to flow through
(c) first, second and third switching device in turn enabling a grouping of red, green and blue light emitting diodes, which are series connected to their respective first, second and third switching devices.

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 method of etching, comprising
directing a single plasma etch having at least first and second gasses at a substrate, wherein the substrate is at least partially covered with at least first and second layers, wherein the first gas at least includes tricholorborane (BCl3) and the second gas includes sulfur hexafluoride (SF6);
electrostatically attracting ions of the first gas towards the substrate, wherein the second gas selectively etches the first layer relative to the second layer at an etch rate, wherein the first layer comprises silicon and the second layer comprises an electrically conductive material; and
detecting a drop in the etch rate by optical-emission spectroscopy to stop the etching when the second layer is exposed.
2. The method of etching of claim 1, further comprising grounding the substrate.
3. The method of etching of claim 1, further comprising applying an electrical bias to the substrate.
4. The method of etching of claim 1, further comprising:
metallizing an aperture formed in the first layer by the etching to form a metal via that extends down to the second layer and wherein the silicon is a sacrificial silicon that is removed following the formation of the metal via that electrically contacts the metal layer.
5. The method of etching of claim 1, wherein the electrostatically attracting ions of the first gas towards the substrate provides for etch directionality.
6. A method of making a micro-mirror device, comprising:
directing a single plasma etch having at least first and second gasses at a substrate having at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first gas at least includes tricholorborane (BCl3) and the second gas is sulfur hexafluoride (SF6); and
etching the silicon layer by electrostatically attracting ions of the first gas into the first layer towards the substrate, wherein the second gas selectively etches the first layer relative to the second layer at an etch rate, wherein the second layer comprises an electrically conductive material, and wherein the first layer is a sacrificial layer of silicon that is removed following the formation of the metal via that electrically contacts the second layer;
detecting a drop in the etch rate by optical-emission spectroscopy to stop the etching when the second layer is exposed;
metallizing the first layer to form a metal via in an aperture formed during the etching that extends through the first layer and is connected to the second layer; and
forming a reflective plate that is physically attached to the metal via, wherein the metal via physically connects and electrically couples the second layer and the reflective plate.
7. The method of etching of claim 6, further comprising grounding the substrate.
8. The method of etching of claim 6, further comprising applying an electrical bias to the substrate.
9. The method of etching of claim 6, wherein the electrostatically attracting ions of the first gas towards the substrate provides for etch directionality.

1. A eukaryotic expression vector for recombinant expression of a product of interest in a mammalian cell comprising a first polynucleotide encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor serving as selectable marker in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate and a second polynucleotide encoding a product of interest to be recombinantly expressed, wherein the product of interest is a pharmaceutically active, therapeutically active, or a diagnostic polypeptide.
2. The expression vector according to claim 1, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are under the control of distinct transcription promoters.
3. The expression vector according to claim 2, wherein the transcription promoters are the same.
4. The expression vector according to claim 2, wherein the transcription promoters are different.
5. The expression vector according to claim 2, wherein the promoter controlling the transcription of the first polynucleotide is an SV40 promoter.
6. The expression vector according to claim 1, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are under the control of a common transcription promoter.
7. The expression vector according to claim 6, wherein the common transcription promoter is an SV40 promoter.
8. The expression vector according to claim 6, wherein said vector comprises an IRES element functionally located between the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide.
9. The expression vector according to claim 1, wherein the functional membrane-bound folate receptor encoded by the first polynucleotide is selected from the group consisting of a folate receptor alpha (FR\u03b1), a folate receptor beta (FR\u03b2), and a functional mutant thereof.
10. The expression vector according to claim 9, wherein the functional membrane-bound folate receptor encoded by the first polynucleotide is a human folate receptor alpha (hFR\u03b1).
11. A mammalian cell for recombinantly producing a product of interest wherein the cellular viability of said cell is dependent on folate uptake, and into which mammalian cell a first polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor serving as selectable marker in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate and a second polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding a product of interest have been stably introduced, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are located on the same expression vector or on separate an expression vectors and wherein the product of interest is a pharmaceutically active, therapeutically active, or diagnostic polypeptide.
12. The mammalian cell according to claim 11, wherein said cell is lacking full activity of at least one endogenous functional membrane-bound folate receptor.
13. The mammalian cell according to claim 11, wherein said first polynucleotide encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor and said second polynucleotide encoding a product of interest are located on the same expression vector.
14. The mammalian cell according to claim 11, wherein the expression vector is a eukaryotic expression vector for recombinant expression of a product of interest in a mammalian cell comprising a first polynucleotide encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor serving as selectable marker in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate and a second polynucleotide encoding a product of interest to be recombinantly expressed, wherein the product of interest is a pharmaceutically or therapeutically active or a diagnostic polypeptide.
15. The mammalian cell according to claim 11, wherein said mammalian cell is a rodent cell.
16. The mammalian cell according to claim 15, wherein said rodent cell is a CHO cell.
17. A process for production of a mammalian cell according to claim 13, said process comprising providing a mammalian cell for which cellular viability is dependent upon folate uptake, and introducing a first polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding the functional membrane-bound folate receptor serving as selectable marker in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate and a second polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding the product of interest, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are located on the same expression vector or on separate an expression vectors.
18. The process according to claim 17, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are located on the same expression vector.
19. The process according to claim 18, wherein the expression vector is a eukaryotic expression vector for recombinant expression of a product of interest in a mammalian cell comprising a first polynucleotide encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor serving as selectable marker in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate and a second polynucleotide encoding a product of interest to be recombinantly expressed, wherein the product of interest is a pharmaceutically or therapeutically active or a diagnostic polypeptides.
20. A method for selection of a eukaryotic cell capable of stably expressing a product of interest encoded by an expression vector which has been introduced into the cell, comprising
(i) providing a plurality of eukaryotic cells for which cellular viability is dependent upon folate uptake, and into which cells a first polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding a functional membrane-bound folate receptor and a second polynucleotide located on an expression vector and encoding the product of interest have been introduced, wherein the first polynucleotide and the second polynucleotide are located on the same expression vector or on separate expression vectors,
(ii) culturing said plurality of eukaryotic cells in a cell culture medium having a limiting concentration of a folate, thereby obtaining a eukaryotic cell wherein stable expression of the product of interest is achieved.
21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising identifying and isolating a eukaryotic cell wherein stable expression of the product of interest is achieved.
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the plurality of eukaryotic cells is composed of eukaryotic cells as defined in claim 11.
23. A process for production of a product of interest, comprising
(i) performing a method of selection according to claim 11, and
(ii) isolating the product of interest from said cell culture medium or from said cell.
24. A method for selection of a eukaryotic cell capable of stably expressing a product of interest comprising the use of a functional membrane bound folate receptor as a section marker, wherein said eukaryotic cell cellular viability is dependent on the uptake of folate.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the folate receptor is selected from the group consisting of the folate receptor alpha (FR\u03b1), the folate receptor beta (FR\u03b2), and a functional mutant thereof.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the folate receptor is the human folate receptor alpha (hFR\u03b1).

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 receiver circuit for receiving an analog signal comprising:
a mixer device which mixes said analog signal with a local-oscillator frequency and outputs a mixer current signal;
a first integrator device coupled to said mixer device generating a first intermediate signal by integrating said mixer current signal summed with a first feedback current signal;
a second integrator device following said first integrator device and generating a quantizer input signal by integrating said first intermediate signal summed with a second feedback current signal;
a quantizer device generating a digital output signal by quantizing said quantizer input signal, wherein said quantizer device receives said quantizer input signal directly from said second integrator, said quantizer input signal being the only input signal to the quantizer device;
a first feedback digitalanalog converter which converts said digital output signal into said first feedback current signal; and
a second feedback digitalanalog converter converting said digital output signal into said second feedback current signal,
wherein said first and second integrator devices are constructed of an operational amplifier and a feedback capacitor;
wherein at least one local resonator loop is formed and at least two serially interconnected integrator devices are provided with feedback via a resistor.
2. The receiver circuit of claim 1, wherein at least one of said first or second feedback digitalanalog converters is followed by a weighting device which weights the relevant feedback signal of said first or second feedback signals with a weighting factor.
3. The receiver circuit of claim 2, wherein said weighting factor is adjusted in such a manner that said receiver circuit performs a predetermined filtering of said analog signal.
4. The receiver circuit of claim 1, further comprising at least one further integrator device and at least one further associated feedback digitalanalog converter; wherein said at least one further integrator devices is connected serially between said first integrator device and said second integrator device and integrates an associated further feedback current signal summed with an intermediate signal generated by an integrator device preceding said further integrator device; said further feedback current signal being generated by said further associated feedback digitalanalog converter from said digital output signal.
5. The receiver circuit of claim 4, further comprising a further weighting device following said further digitalanalog converter.
6. The receiver circuit of claim 1, wherein at least one feed forward loop with a feed forward weighting device is provided; said feed forward weighting device weighting an intermediate signal of an integrator device and said weighted intermediate signal is added to the quantizer input signal.
7. The receiver circuit of claim 1, wherein said quantizer device and said first and second feedback digitalanalog converters are arranged as multi-bit quantizer and multi-bit digitalanalog converter.
8. The receiver circuit of claim 1, wherein said mixer device is preceded by a preamplifier which amplifies said analog signal.
9. The receiver circuit of claim 8, wherein said preamplifier is preceded by a receiving means or an antenna.
10. The receiver circuit of claim 1, wherein a device for dynamic element balancing precedes at least one of said first or second feedback digitalanalog converters.
11. The receiver circuit of claim 1, further comprising a filter device for generating a filtered quantizer input signal by filtering said quantizer input signal, wherein said filtered quantizer input signal is fed to said quantizer device.
12. The receiver circuit of claim 11, wherein said filter device is an integrator.
13. An arrangement configured to receive an analog signal comprising:
a mixer device configured to mix the analog signal with a local-oscillator frequency and to output a mixer current signal;
a quantizer device configured to generate a digital output signal by quantizing a quantizer input signal;
one or more signal paths between the mixer device and quantizer device, at least a first signal path configured to generate the quantizer input signal, each of the one or more signal paths configured to provide at least second order filtering; and
a first feedback digitalanalog converter configured to convert the digital output signal into the first feedback current signal; and
a second feedback digitalanalog converter configured to convert the digital output signal into the second feedback current signal;
wherein the first signal paths includes a first integrator device coupled to receive the mixer current signal summed with a first feedback current signal; and a second integrator device coupled to receive an output of the first integrator device summed with a second feedback current signal and to generate the quantizer input signal based on the output of the first integrator device summed with the second feedback current signal, and
wherein the quantizer device receives the quantizer input signal directly from the second integrator, the quantizer input signal being the only input signal to the quantizer device,
wherein said first and second integrator devices are constructed of an operational amplifier and a feedback capacitor; and
wherein at least one local resonator loop is formed and at least two serially interconnected integrator devices are provided with feedback via a resistor.
14. The arrangement of claim 13, further comprising at least one feed forward loop with a feed forward weighting device, said feed forward weighting device configured to weight an intermediate signal of an integrator device; and wherein the weighted intermediate signal is added to the quantizer input signal.
15. The arrangement of claim 13, wherein at least one signal path includes a plurality of integrators, each integrator operably coupled to an output of the quantizer via one of a plurality of digitalanalog conversion devices.