Author: claimsbot

1. A display device comprising:
a first substrate;
a switching element formed in a pixel area over the first substrate;
an interlayer insulating film comprising an organic resin formed over the switching element;
a pixel electrode formed over the interlayer insulating film and electrically connected to the switching element;
an alignment film formed over the pixel electrode;
a driver circuit comprising a thin film transistor formed over the first substrate;
a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
a plurality of gap retaining members formed in the pixel area and directly over the driver circuit between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the plurality of gap retaining members is formed by a process including:
forming a resin layer; and
patterning the resin layer,

wherein a shape of at least one of the plurality of gap retaining members and a shape of at least another one of the plurality of gap retaining members are different, and
wherein an interval between the gap retaining members in the pixel area is different from an interval between the gap retaining members directly over the driver circuit.
2. The display device according to claim 1 wherein the switching element comprises an inverted staggered thin film transistor.
3. The display device according to claim 1 wherein the resin layer comprises an ultraviolet curable resin.
4. The display device according to claim 1 wherein the resin layer comprises a photocurable polyimide.
5. The display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of gap retaining members has a streamlined shape.
6. The display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of gap retaining members has an ellipse shape.
7. The display device according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of gap retaining members has a polygon shape.
8. A display device comprising:
a first substrate;
a switching element formed in a pixel area over the first substrate;
an interlayer insulating film comprising an organic resin formed over the switching element;
a pixel electrode formed over the interlayer insulating film and electrically connected to the switching element;
a driver circuit comprising a thin film transistor formed over the first substrate;
a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
a plurality of first gap retaining members formed in the pixel area over the second substrate;
a plurality of second gap retaining members formed over the second substrate, wherein the driver circuit and the plurality of second gap retaining members are overlapped with each other,
wherein an interval between the plurality of first gap retaining members is different from an interval between the plurality of second gap retaining members,
wherein the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members are formed by a process comprising:
forming a resin layer over the second substrate; and
patterning the resin layer.
9. The display device according to claim 8 wherein the switching element comprises an inverted staggered thin film transistor.
10. The display device according to claim 8 wherein the resin layer comprises an ultraviolet curable resin.
11. The display device according to claim 8 wherein the resin layer comprises a photocurable polyimide.
12. The display device according to claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members has a different shape from at least one of the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members.
13. A display device comprising:
a first substrate;
a switching element formed in a pixel area over the first substrate;
an interlayer insulating film comprising an organic resin formed over the switching element;
a pixel electrode formed over the interlayer insulating film and electrically connected to the switching element;
a driver circuit comprising a thin film transistor formed over the first substrate;
a second substrate opposed to the first substrate;
a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
a plurality of first gap retaining members formed in the pixel area over the first substrate;
a plurality of second gap retaining members formed over the first substrate, wherein the driver circuit and the plurality of second gap retaining members are overlapped with each other,
wherein an interval between the plurality of first gap retaining members is different from an interval between the plurality of second gap retaining members,
wherein the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members are formed by a process comprising:
forming a resin layer over the first substrate; and
patterning the resin layer.
14. The display device according to claim 13 wherein the switching element comprises an inverted staggered thin film transistor.
15. The display device according to claim 13 wherein the resin layer comprises an ultraviolet curable resin.
16. The display device according to claim 13 wherein the resin layer comprises a photocurable polyimide.
17. The display device according to claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members has a different shape from at least one of the plurality of first gap retaining members and the plurality of second gap retaining members.

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. An integrated MIM capacitor structure suitable for inclusion in a semiconductor device, the capacitor structure comprising:
a first metallization level overlying a substrate, the first metallization level including a first metallization plate overlying a capacitor region of the substrate;
a MIM capacitor, comprising:
the first metallization plate;
a MIM capacitor dielectric overlying the first metallization plate; and
an electrically conductive MIM capacitor plate overlying the MIM capacitor dielectric; and

a parasitic capacitor, comprising:
a second metallization plate comprising a portion of a second metallization level overlying the capacitor region;
a parasitic capacitor dielectric including an interlevel dielectric underlying the second metallization plate; and
a parasitic capacitor plate underlying the interlevel dielectric;

wherein a structure of the first metallization plate is selected from a fingered structure and a convex plate structure, a structure of the second metallization plate is selected from a fingered structure and a convex plate structure, and wherein the fingered structured includes a plurality of conductive fingers extending from a common connector;
wherein the fingered structure includes a plurality of rectangular fingers, each having a finger depth and a finger length, each adjacent pair of fingers separated by a finger spacing; and
wherein a ratio of a finger width to the finger spacing is approximately equal to 4.
2. The capacitor structure of claim 1, wherein the parasitic capacitor plate comprises the MIM capacitor plate.
3. The capacitor structure of claim 2, further comprising:
an electrically conductive via connecting the second metallization plate to the first metallization plate; and
a routing element comprising a portion of the second metallization level, wherein the routing element is connected to the MIM capacitor plate.
4. The capacitive structure of claim 1, wherein a metallization density of the fingered structure is approximately equal to 80%.
5. A semiconductor fabrication process, comprising:
forming a first metallization level overlying a substrate including a capacitor region and a field region, the first metallization level including a first metallization plate overlying the capacitor region;
forming a capacitor dielectric overlying the first metallization plate;
forming a capacitor plate overlying the capacitor dielectric;
forming an interlevel dielectric layer overlying the capacitor plate; and
forming a second metallization level overlying the interlevel dielectric layer, the second metallization level including a second metallization plate overlying the capacitor region;
wherein forming at least one of the first metallization level and the second metallization level includes a patterning of a metallization level to define a fingered structure, the fingered structure including a plurality of electrically coupled finger elements, wherein adjacent finger elements are separated by a minimum spacing;
wherein the finger elements have a finger width; and
wherein a spacing-to-period ratio of the fingered structure is approximately equal to 20%.
6. The semiconductor fabrication process of claim 5, further comprising:
prior to forming the interlevel dielectric layer, forming a second capacitor dielectric overlying the first capacitor plate;
forming a second capacitor plate overlying the second capacitor dielectric.

1-21. (canceled)
22. An instrument for spinal surgery, comprising:
a distractor insertable into the disc space, the distractor including a body portion extending between a leading end and a trailing end, the distractor further including at least one flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion, the at least one flange forming a slot along the body portion.
23. The instrument of claim 22, further comprising a cutter including a distal cutting end, the cutter advanceable over the body portion and into the slot formed between the body portion and the at least one flange of the distractor.
24. The instrument of claim 23, wherein the cutter instrument defines a channel sized to receive the body portion of the distractor when advanced thereover.
25. The instrument of claim 24, wherein the distractor includes a shaft extending proximally from said body portion and said cutter is positionable over said shaft.
26. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the body portion includes a cavity adapted to receive cut bony material therein.
27. The instrument of claim 26, wherein the body portion of the distractor includes an upper surface positionable adjacent an endplate of an upper vertebra and a lower surface positionable adjacent an endplate of a lower vertebra.
28. The instrument of claim 27, wherein the cavity opens at at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion.
29. The instrument of claim 22, wherein the distractor further includes a second flange opposite the at least one flange, the second flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion and forming a second slot along the body portion.
30. The instrument of claim 29, further comprising a shaft extending proximally from the trailing end of the body portion and away from the leading end of the body portion.
31. The instrument of claim 22, further comprising an elongated shaft extending proximally from the trailing end of the body portion and away from the leading end of the body portion.
32. The instrument of claim 31, wherein the shaft includes a handle removably attached to a proximal end thereof.
33. An instrument for spinal surgery, comprising:
a distractor insertable into the disc space, the distractor including:
a body portion extending between a leading end and a trailing end;
at least one flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion, the at least one flange forming a slot along the body portion that opens toward the leading end and is closed at the trailing end; and
an elongated shaft extending from the trailing end of the body portion in a direction away from the leading end of the body portion.
34. The instrument of claim 33, wherein the distractor includes:
a handle removably attached to a proximal end of the shaft.
35. The instrument of claim 34, wherein the body portion of the distractor includes:
an upper surface positionable adjacent an endplate of an upper vertebra;
a lower surface positionable adjacent an endplate of a lower vertebra;
a cavity extending between and opening at each of the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion; and
a height between the upper surface and the lower surface that tapers toward the leading end of the body portion.
36. The instrument of claim 35, wherein the at least one flange extends along a sidewall of the body portion, the sidewall extending between the leading and trailing ends and the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion.
37. The instrument of claim 36, wherein the body portion includes a second sidewall opposite of and generally parallel to the sidewall.
38. The instrument of claim 33, wherein the body portion includes a first width at the trailing end extending between the at least one flange and a first sidewall that is on a side of the body portion opposite the at least one flange, the first width being greater than a second width at the trailing end that extends between the first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall, wherein the second sidewall is adjacent to the at least one flange and forms a portion of said slot with the at least one flange.
39. An instrument for spinal surgery, comprising:
a distractor insertable into the disc space, the distractor including:
a body portion extending between a leading end and a trailing end;
an upper surface positionable adjacent an endplate of an upper vertebra;
an opposite lower surface positionable adjacent an endplate of a lower vertebra;
a cavity extending between and opening at each of the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion;
at least one flange extending from the leading end towards the trailing end of the body portion, the at least one flange forming a slot along the body portion; and
an elongated shaft extending from the trailing end in a direction away from the leading end.
40. The instrument of claim 39, wherein the at least one flange extends along a sidewall of the body portion, the sidewall extending between the leading and trailing ends and the upper and lower surfaces of the body portion.
41. The instrument of claim 40, wherein the body portion includes a second sidewall opposite of and generally parallel to the sidewall.
42. The instrument of claim 39, wherein the body portion includes a height between the upper and lower surfaces that tapers toward the leading end.

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 computer implemented method for predictively managing a failover in a high availability (HA) data processing system, comprising:
detecting a disruptive activity occurring on the HA data processing system, wherein the disruptive activity has a potential to cause an operation of the HA data processing system to perform outside a specified parameter;
determining a desired response in the HA data processing system, should the disruptive activity disrupting the operation; and
initiating a precautionary action with respect to the HA data processing system.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the disruptive activity has completed; and
returning, responsive to determining that the disruptive activity has completed, the HA data processing system to a normal operating mode.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, further comprising:
causing, responsive to determining that the disruptive activity has failed, the desired response to occur in the HA data processing system.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the disruptive activity has completed is accomplished by querying a log, the log including an entry indicating completion of the disruptive activity.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein determining whether the disruptive activity has completed further comprises:
allowing a predetermined period to elapse from a time of starting of the disruptive activity;
determining that the disruptive activity has not actually causes the operation of the HA data processing system to be disrupted;
concluding, responsive to the operation not having been disrupted, that the disruptive activity has completed; and
performing a restorative action on the HA data processing system.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein detecting the disruptive activity further comprises:
querying a log, the log including an entry indicating an initiation of the disruptive activity.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the desired response is a failover in the HA data processing system.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the precautionary action is configured to cause the desired response at a rate faster than a second rate at which the desired response would occur in the HA data processing system without the precautionary action.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the precautionary action causes the HA data processing system to change from a normal operation mode to a fast failover detection mode.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the precautionary action causes the HA data processing system to activate checkpointing in an application executing in the HA data processing system.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the precautionary action causes the HA data processing system to save a snapshot of a cluster configuration.
12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the precautionary action causes a client data processing system to be notified of the disruptive activity, the client using the notification to modify an operation of the client data processing system.
13. A computer usable program product comprising a computer usable storage medium including computer usable code for predictively managing a failover in a high availability (HA) data processing system, the computer usable code comprising:
computer usable code for detecting a disruptive activity occurring on the HA data processing system, wherein the disruptive activity has a potential to cause an operation of the HA data processing system to perform outside a specified parameter;
computer usable code for determining a desired response in the HA data processing system, should the disruptive activity disrupting the operation; and
computer usable code for initiating a precautionary action with respect to the HA data processing system.
14. The computer usable program product of claim 13, further comprising:
computer usable code for determining whether the disruptive activity has completed; and
computer usable code for returning, responsive to determining that the disruptive activity has completed, the HA data processing system to a normal operating mode.
15. The computer usable program product of claim 14, further comprising:
computer usable code for causing, responsive to determining that the disruptive activity has failed, the desired response to occur in the HA data processing system.
16. The computer usable program product of claim 14, wherein determining whether the disruptive activity has completed is accomplished by querying a log, the log including an entry indicating completion of the disruptive activity.
17. The computer usable program product of claim 14, wherein determining whether the disruptive activity has completed further comprises:
computer usable code for allowing a predetermined period to elapse from a time of starting of the disruptive activity;
computer usable code for determining that the disruptive activity has not actually causes the operation of the HA data processing system to be disrupted;
computer usable code for concluding, responsive to the operation not having been disrupted, that the disruptive activity has completed; and
computer usable code for performing a restorative action on the HA data processing system.
18. The computer usable program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is transferred over a network from a remote data processing system.
19. The computer usable program product of claim 13, wherein the computer usable code is stored in a computer readable storage medium in a server data processing system, and wherein the computer usable code is downloaded over a network to a remote data processing system for use in a computer readable storage medium associated with the remote data processing system.
20. A data processing system for predictively managing a failover in a high availability (HA) data processing system, the data processing system comprising:
a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and
a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises:
computer usable code for detecting a disruptive activity occurring on the HA data processing system, wherein the disruptive activity has a potential to cause an operation of the HA data processing system to perform outside a specified parameter;
computer usable code for determining a desired response in the HA data processing system, should the disruptive activity disrupting the operation; and
computer usable code for initiating a precautionary action with respect to the HA data processing system.