Author: claimsbot

1. A subscriber unit in a wireless network, the subscriber unit comprising:
a framer configured to receive bits of input payload data and to group the bits into a plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames;
a forward error correction (FEC) encoder configured to encode bits of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames to include an error correction code such that a resulting number of output encoded symbols remains fixed, even when a number of bits in a pre-encoded frame changes;
a modulator configured to modulate the encoded symbols according to a multiple-access modulation technique to produce a modulated encoded signal; and
a radio frequency (RF) up-converter configured to transmit the modulated encoded signal.
2. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the framer further comprises a plurality of framer circuits, each framer circuit configured to group bits of the input payload data into a respective one of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames.
3. The subscriber unit of claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames is selected to produce, when encoded, a desired number of output symbols in an encoded frame.
4. The subscriber unit of claim 2, wherein the encoder comprises a plurality of framer circuit-FEC symbol encoder pairs, wherein each of the plurality of framer circuit-FEC symbol encoder pairs comprises an FEC symbol encoder in communication with a framer circuit and configured to encode bits of the respective one of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames according to a different encoding rate, each of a plurality of framer circuit-FEC symbol encoder pairs providing the same number of encoded symbols in an encoded frame.
5. The subscriber unit of claim 4, wherein a selectable one of the plurality of framer circuit-FEC symbol encoder pairs is activated at any given point in time.
6. The subscriber unit of claim 5, wherein one of the plurality of framer circuit-FEC symbol encoder pairs are configured to receive a coding rate control signal, the framer circuit configured to selectively activate one of the plurality of framer circuits responsive to the received coding rate control signal and the FEC symbol encoder configured to selectively activate one of the plurality of FEC symbol encoders responsive to the received coding rate control signal, such that the activated framer circuit and FEC symbol encoder, provide the same number of encoded symbols in an encoded frame.
7. The subscriber unit of claim 1, wherein the FEC encoder comprises a plurality of FEC symbol encoders, each FEC symbol encoder respectively configured to encode bits of the frames according to a different encoding rate.
8. A method for coding wireless communication channels, the method comprising:
receiving bits of input payload data;
grouping the bits of input payload data into a plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames;
forward error correction (FEC) encoding each of the differently-sized, pre-encoded frames to include a respective error correction code such that a resulting number of encoded symbols in an encoded frame remains constant;
selecting encoded symbols from one of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames;
modulating the selected encoded symbols according to a multiple-access modulation technique to produce a modulated encoded signal; and
transmitting the modulated encoded signal.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the respective sizes of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames are selected to produce, when encoded, a desired number of output symbols in an encoded frame.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein said FEC encoding further comprises providing a plurality of FEC symbol encoders, each of the plurality of FEC symbol encoders encoding bits of a respective one of the plurality of differently-sized, pre-encoded frames according to a different encoding rate.

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 system for carrying and moving an object in a plane, comprising:
an object carrier;
a first and a second linear actuator configured to move said object carrier in a first direction, said first and second linear actuators extending in parallel along said first direction;
a third and a fourth linear actuator configured to move said object carrier in a second direction, said third and fourth linear actuators extending in parallel along said second direction;
wherein said first and second linear actuators are adapted to support said object carrier.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said third and fourth linear actuators are adapted to support said first and second linear actuators.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second linear actuators each comprise an air bearing to support said object carrier.
4. The system of claim 2, wherein said third and fourth linear actuators each comprise an air bearing to support said first and second linear actuators.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second linear actuators are electromagnetic linear actuators, comprising:
a magnetic structure having a row of alternating magnetic poles on an outer surface thereof, said row being orientated in said first direction; and
a coil structure having an iron core with a number of teeth in a row orientated in said first direction and having a number of coils wound around a respective number of said teeth;
wherein the coil structure and the magnetic structure are positioned relative to each other such that the row of magnetic poles is positioned opposing the row of teeth, around which coils are wound, the coil structure and the magnetic structure being separated by an air bearing.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein said air bearing for separating the coil structure and the magnetic structure is adapted to support the object carrier.
7. The system of claim 2, wherein said third and fourth linear actuators are electromagnetic linear actuators, comprising:
a magnetic structure having a row of alternating magnetic poles on an outer surface thereof, said row being orientated in said first direction; and
a coil structure having an iron core with a number of teeth in a row orientated in said first direction and having a number of coils wound around a respective number of said teeth;
wherein the coil structure and the magnetic structure are positioned relative to each other such that the row of magnetic poles is positioned opposing the row of teeth around which coils are wound, the coil structure and the magnetic structure being separated by an air bearing.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein said air bearing for separating the coil structure and the magnetic structure is adapted to support said first and second linear actuators.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein said object carrier is positioned relative to said first and second linear actuators such that a vertical line through a center of gravity of said object carrier is located between said first and second linear actuators.
10. The system of claim 2, wherein said first and second linear actuators are positioned relative to said third and fourth linear actuators such that a common center of gravity of said first and second linear actuators is positioned between said third and fourth linear actuators.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second linear actuators are substantially symmetrically positioned with respect to the center of gravity of said object carrier.
12. The system of claim 2, wherein said third and fourth linear actuators are substantially symmetrically positioned with respect to the common center of gravity of the first and second linear actuators.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein said first and second linear actuators are positioned at opposite ends of the object carrier.
14. The system of claim 2, wherein said third and fourth linear actuators are positioned at opposite ends of said first and second linear actuators.
15. The system of claim 1, wherein said second direction is perpendicular to said first direction.
16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to control said first and second linear actuators.
17. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:
an illumination system configured to provide a beam of radiation;
a carrier structure configured to carry a patterning device, the patterning device serving to impart the beam of radiation with a pattern in its cross-section;
a first and second linear actuator configured to move said carrier structure in a first direction, said first and second linear actuators extending in parallel along said first direction, wherein said first and second linear actuators are adapted to support said carrier structure;
a third and a fourth linear actuator configured to move said carrier structure in a second direction, said third and fourth linear actuators extending in parallel along said second direction;
a substrate holder configured to hold a substrate; and
a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate.
18. A lithographic apparatus, comprising:
an illumination system configured to provide a beam of radiation;
a support structure configured to support a patterning device, the patterning device serving to impart the beam of radiation with a pattern in its cross-section;
a carrier structure configured to carry a substrate;
a first and second linear actuator configured to move said carrier structure in a first direction, said first and second linear actuators extending in parallel along said first direction, wherein said first and second linear actuators are adapted to support said carrier structure;
a third and a fourth linear actuator configured to move said carrier structure in a second direction, said third and fourth linear actuators extending in parallel along said second direction; and
a projection system configured to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of the substrate.
19. A method for carrying and moving an object in a plane, comprising:
positioning said object on an object carrier, said object carrier being moveable by a first and a second linear actuator in a first direction and by a third and a fourth linear actuator in a second direction, said first and second linear actuators being adapted to support said object carrier; and
controlling said first and second linear actuators to move said object carrier in said first direction.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising controlling said third and fourth linear actuators to move said object carrier in said second direction.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said controlling said first and second linear actuators to move said object carrier in the first direction comprises:
inputting a set position in a control system;
determining an actual position of said object carrier;
inputting the actual position in said control system;
determining a control signal suitable to move said object carrier from said actual position to said set position; and
feeding said control signal to said linear actuators.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein said determining actual position of said object carrier comprises:
determining an actual position of each linear actuator, and
determining from said actual position of each linear actuator whether both linear actuators move synchronously.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein said determining control signal comprises determining a control signal for each linear actuator suitable to compensate any positional and rotational error resulting from asynchronous movement of said linear actuators.
24. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
providing a substrate;
providing a beam of radiation using an illumination system;
imparting the beam of radiation with a desired pattern in its cross-section based on a patterning device, said patterning device being carried by a carrier structure;
moving said patterning device into a desired position along a first and second direction, wherein said carrier structure is moveable by a first and a second linear actuator in the first direction and by a third and a fourth linear actuator in the second direction, said first and second linear actuators being adapted to support said carrier structure;
controlling at least said first and second linear actuators and said third and fourth linear actuators to respectively move said carrier structure in said first and second directions; and
projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the substrate.
25. A device manufacturing method, comprising:
providing a substrate, said substrate being carried by a carrier structure;
providing a beam of radiation using an illumination system;
imparting the beam of radiation with a desired pattern in its cross-section based on a patterning device;
moving said substrate into a desired position along a first and second direction, wherein said carrier structure is moveable by a first and a second linear actuator in the first direction and by a third and a fourth linear actuator in the second direction, said first and second linear actuators being adapted to support said carrier structure;
controlling at least said first and second linear actuators and said third and fourth linear actuators to respectively move said carrier structure in said first and second directions; and
projecting the patterned beam of radiation onto a target portion of the substrate.

1. A method for generating an optimal stereoscopic image, the method including an optimizing sequence comprising:
determining an original position of a point in a scene, the original position of the point having an original depth;
modifying the original position of the point in the scene to a new position, the new position having a new depth;
wherein the modifying the original position of the point in the scene to a new position comprises:
using a depth scaling function, Z\u2032(Z), wherein Z represents the original position of the point in the scene.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying the original position of the point in the scene to a new position further comprises:
moving the original position of the point in the scene along a line, the line defined by extending through the original position of the point in the scene and a midpoint between two capture camera positions.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the two capture camera positions comprise capture camera positions in a computer generated imagery environment.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the moving the original position of the point comprises moving the original position of the point toward the midpoint between the two capture camera positions.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the optimizing sequence is repeated for every point in the scene.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimizing sequence is repeated for every point in the scene.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is a computer generated imagery environment.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the scene is real.
9. A method for generating an optimal stereoscopic image, the method comprising:
determining a preserved perspective of a scene comprising:
determining a first perceived depth and a first display height of a first object;
determining a second perceived depth and a second display height of a second object; and
setting a first ratio comprising the first perceived depth over the first display height directly proportional to a second ratio comprising the second perceived depth over the second display height; and

scaling the preserved perspective of the scene, comprising:
generating a new first perceived depth and a new first perceived height; and
generating a new second perceived depth and a new second perceived height;
wherein the new first perceived depth, new first perceived height, new second perceived depth, and new second perceived height are a fixed proportion of the first perceived depth, first perceived height, second perceived depth, and second perceived height.

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 system for repairing a heart valve in a beating heart of a patient, comprising;
a port adapted to span a wall of the heart of the patient, the port having an opening extending therethrough and including a sealing portion including at least one seal configured to be positioned in the opening between an interior and an exterior of the heart;
an imaging catheter slidably insertable into the opening of the port, the imaging catheter having at least one lumen therethrough and including at least one imaging element;
a deployment catheter slidably insertable into the at least one lumen of the imaging catheter, the deployment catheter carrying a deployment mechanism and including at least one lumen therethrough, wherein a distal end of at least one of the imaging catheter and the deployment catheter forms a first portion of a jaw assembly for grasping target tissue for repair in the heart;
a repair cartridge slidably insertable into the lumen of the deployment catheter, the repair cartridge at least partially carrying a repair device adapted to repair the target tissue that is deployed onto the target tissue in conjunction with the deployment mechanism, the repair cartridge having a shaft with a tip at a distal end of the shaft, and wherein a proximally facing surface of the tip forms a second portion of the jaw assembly; and
an elongate removable locking mechanism selectively removable from contact with both the imaging catheter and the port and configured to engage the imaging catheter longitudinally along a length of an outer circumferential surface of the imaging catheter to prevent the imaging catheter from moving distally towards the target tissue relative to the port when the removable locking mechanism is engaged with the imaging catheter and a proximal force is applied to the imaging catheter for inserting the imaging catheter into the heart of the patient, the removable locking mechanism configured to move together with the imaging catheter when engaged with the imaging catheter;
wherein the imaging catheter is free to slide distally relative to the port to access the target tissue in the heart when the removable locking mechanism is not engaged with the imaging catheter to capture the target tissue with the jaw assembly;
wherein the at least one imaging element confirms proper capture of the target tissue with the jaw assembly; and
wherein the at least one seal substantially prevents blood from escaping the heart through the port while providing for selective insertion and removal of the imaging catheter, deployment catheter and repair cartridge through the port while the heart of the patient is beating.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second repair cartridge at least partially carrying a second repair device, the second repair cartridge adapted to replace the repair cartridge in the system following deployment of the repair device.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a second deployment catheter, wherein the second repair cartridge is inserted into the second deployment catheter.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the repair device is a suture.
5. The system of claim 4, further comprising a pledget to which the suture is attached following deployment of the suture, the pledget adapted to directly interface with the target tissue.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging element comprises a plurality of fiber optics carried within at least one dedicated lumen in the imaging catheter.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the removable locking mechanism engages an outer surface of the imaging catheter and prevents the imaging catheter from moving distally towards the target tissue by providing a physical barrier sandwiched between a proximal surface of the port and a distal surface of a portion of the imaging catheter that is raised relative to the outer surface of the imaging catheter with which the removable locking mechanism is engaged.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip of the repair cartridge has a tapered distal end.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the sealing portion of the port includes at least a first seal and a second seal, the first seal having an opening adapted to seal around an outer surface of the imaging catheter and the second seal having a plurality of slits that remain generally sealed when the imaging catheter is not inserted through the second seal.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the port includes a stabilizing portion that is configured to engage with and seal with the heart wall and is configured to extend into the heart to provide access to the interior of the heart through the port.
11. A method of providing instruments and instructions for repairing a valve leaflet comprising:
providing the device of claim 1; and
providing instructions for operating the device of claim 1 to repair the valve leaflet.
12. A system for repairing a heart valve in a beating heart of a patient, comprising:
a port adapted to span a wall of the heart of the patient, the port having an opening extending therethrough configured to be positioned between an interior and an exterior of the heart;
a catheter slidably insertable into the opening of the port, the catheter including at least one imaging element and a deployment mechanism and having a distal end that forms a first portion of a jaw assembly adapted to grasp target tissue for repair in the heart;
a repair cartridge slidably insertable into the catheter, the repair cartridge at least partially carrying a repair device that is deployed into the target tissue in conjunction with the deployment mechanism and having a shaft with a tip at a distal end of the shaft that forms a second portion of the jaw assembly, wherein the imaging element confirms proper capture of the target tissue with the jaw assembly;
an elongate removable locking mechanism adapted to engage the catheter longitudinally along a length of an outer circumferential surface of the catheter to prevent the catheter from moving distally towards the target tissue relative to the port when the removable locking mechanism is engaged with the catheter and a proximal force is applied to the catheter for inserting the catheter into the heart of the patient, the removable locking mechanism configured to move together with the catheter when engaged with the catheter and the catheter being free to slide distally relative to the port to access the target tissue in the heart when the removable locking mechanism is not engaged with the catheter; and
a seal positioned within the opening of the port, the seal adapted to substantially prevent blood from escaping the heart through the port while providing for selective insertion and removal of the catheter and repair cartridge through the port while the heart of the patient is beating.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the catheter comprises an imaging catheter carrying the imaging element and a separate deployment catheter carrying the deployment mechanism.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the deployment catheter is slidably insertable into a lumen of the imaging catheter.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the deployment catheter and imaging catheter are selectively insertable into a common lumen in the catheter.
16. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second repair cartridge at least partially carrying a second repair device, the second repair cartridge adapted to replace the repair cartridge in the system following deployment of the repair device.
17. The system of claim 1, wherein the repair device is a suture.
18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a pledget to which the suture is attached following deployment of the suture, the pledget adapted to directly interface with the target tissue.
19. The system of claim 12, wherein the removable locking mechanism engages an outer surface of the catheter and prevents the catheter from moving distally towards the target tissue by providing a physical barrier sandwiched between a proximal surface of the port and a distal surface of a portion of the catheter that is raised relative to the outer surface of the catheter with which the removable locking mechanism is engaged.
20. The system of claim 12, wherein the at least one seal includes at least a first seal and a second seal, the first seal having an opening adapted to seal around an outer surface of the catheter and the second seal having a plurality of slits that remain generally sealed when the catheter is not inserted through the second seal.
21. A method of providing instruments and instructions for repairing a valve leaflet, comprising:
providing the device of claim 12; and
providing instructions for operating the device of claim 19 to repair the valve leaflet.