Author: claimsbot

1. A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor, comprising the steps of:
forming a gate insulating layer over a gate electrode over a substrate;
forming a microcrystalline semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer;
forming an amorphous semiconductor layer over the microcrystalline semiconductor layer;
forming a semiconductor layer including an impurity element which imparts one conductivity type, wherein the semiconductor layer forms a source and drain regions over the amorphous semiconductor layer;
forming a source and drain electrodes by using a mask over the semiconductor layer;
removing by first dry-etching, a part of the semiconductor layer, which is exposed from the source and drain electrodes, and partially a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer just below and in contact with the part of the semiconductor layer;
removing by second dry-etching, partially a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer which is exposed by the first dry-etching; and
performing plasma treatment on a surface of a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer that is exposed by the second dry-etching so that an altered layer is formed,
wherein the surface of the part of the amorphous semiconductor layer that is exposed by the second dry-etching is exposed to a plasma containing OH free radicals in the plasma treatment.
2. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 1, wherein the amorphous semiconductor layer is etched without supplying power to the substrate.
3. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 1, wherein the OH free radicals are generated by making at least one of water and hydrogen peroxide water into plasma.
4. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 1, wherein the substrate is heated in the plasma treatment.
5. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 4, wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature of 100\xb0 C. to 280\xb0 C.
6. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 4, wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature of 220\xb0 C. to 280\xb0 C.
7. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 1, wherein the plasma treatment is performed with a plasma down-flow processing apparatus in which a plasma generation chamber and a reaction chamber are separated from each other.
8. A method for manufacturing a thin film transistor, comprising the steps of:
forming a gate insulating layer over a gate electrode over a substrate;
forming an amorphous semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer;
forming a semiconductor layer including an impurity element which imparts one conductivity type, wherein the semiconductor layer forms a source and drain regions over the amorphous semiconductor layer;
forming a source and drain electrodes by using a mask over the semiconductor layer;
removing by first dry-etching, a part of the semiconductor layer, which is exposed from the source and drain electrodes, and partially a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer just below and in contact with the part of the semiconductor layer;
removing by second dry-etching, partially a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer which is exposed by the first dry-etching; and
performing plasma treatment on a surface of a part of the amorphous semiconductor layer that is exposed by the second dry-etching so that an altered layer is formed,
wherein the surface of the part of the amorphous semiconductor layer that is exposed by the second dry-etching is exposed to a plasma containing OH free radicals in the plasma treatment.
9. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 8, wherein the amorphous semiconductor layer is etched without supplying power to the substrate.
10. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 8, wherein the OH free radicals are generated by making at least one of water and hydrogen peroxide water into plasma.
11. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 8, wherein the substrate is heated in the plasma treatment.
12. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 11, wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature of 100\xb0 C. to 280\xb0 C.
13. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 11, wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature of 220\xb0 C. to 280\xb0 C.
14. The method for manufacturing the thin film transistor, according to claim 8, wherein the plasma treatment is performed with a plasma down-flow processing apparatus in which a plasma generation chamber and a reaction chamber are separated from each other.

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 for producing stacks of printed products provided with an additional sheet between sub-stacks thereof, comprising the steps of
serially feeding printed products from a feed conveyor into a preliminary stacking compartment which is bounded at the bottom by a compartment base, and so that the printed products enter the preliminary stacking compartment from above the compartment,
sequentially closing and opening the compartment base so that a series of sub-stacks are formed in the preliminary stacking compartment and individually dropped into a final compartment which is located below the preliminary stacking compartment,
feeding at least one additional sheet, which is visually distinct from the printed products, after at least one sub-stack has been formed in the preliminary stacking compartment and before a further sub-stack is dropped upon the one sub-stack in the final compartment so that the additional sheet ends up located between the one sub-stack and the further sub-stack, and
wherein the feeding step comprises feeding the additional sheet laterally into the preliminary stacking compartment through a side of the compartment and at a location immediately above the compartment base so that the further sub-stack is formed upon the additional sheet.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of rotating the final compartment by about 180\xb0 about a central vertical axis between the dropping of the one sub-stack and the further sub-stack thereinto and so that the one and further sub-stacks are disposed in a relationship rotated about 180\xb0 with respect to each other.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional sheet is fed after the one sub-stack has been formed and dropped into the final compartment and before the further sub-stack has been formed.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of feeding another additional sheet into the preliminary stacking compartment before the one sub-stack is formed so that the one sub-stack ends up located on the another additional sheet.
5. An apparatus for producing stacks of printed products provided with an additional sheet between sub-stacks thereof, comprising
a feed conveyor,
a preliminary stacking compartment positioned with respect to the feed conveyor so that the preliminary stacking compartment is serially supplied with printed products from above the preliminary stacking compartment, and with the preliminary stacking compartment being bounded at the bottom by a compartment base which is mounted for movement between a closed position wherein the fed products may be stacked to form a sub-stack, and a withdrawn position,
a final compartment positioned below the preliminary stacking compartment into which the sub-stacks are sequentially dropped when the compartment base of the preliminary stacking compartment is moved from its closed position to its withdrawn position, to form a complete stack, and
an arrangement for feeding an additional sheet, which is visually distinct from the printed products, after at least one sub-stack has been formed and before a further sub-stack is dropped onto the already formed sub-stack in the final compartment, and such that the additional sheet ends up located between these two sub-stacks in the final compartment, and
wherein the arrangement for feeding an additional sheet has an outlet which is positioned to deliver the sheets into the preliminary stacking compartment through a side thereof and immediately above the compartment base.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the final compartment is mounted for rotation about a central vertical axis and the apparatus further comprises a rotation drive for selectively rotating the final compartment about said axis by about 180\xb0 so that sub-stacks can be dropped one upon another in a relationship rotated about 180\xb0 in relation to one another.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portion of the preliminary stacking compartment above the outlet includes an intermediate base which is mounted for movement into and out of the preliminary stacking compartment and on which the printed products may be stacked until the relevant additional sheet is introduced into the preliminary stacking compartment.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the arrangement for feeding an additional sheet is programmed to feed an additional sheet before the one sub-stack is formed.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the apparatus further comprises a strapping andor wrapping station which is positioned to receive complete stacks from the final compartment.

1. A method for determining to grant access to a user at an access control point of a transit system, the method comprising:
receiving an account identifier from a fare media at a first time, wherein the account identifier is:
unique to the fare media; and
associated with a financial account;

sending information indicative of the account identifier for authorization of a payment;
receiving a denial code indicating a denial of the authorization of the payment;
accessing at least one information source having information related to the user, wherein the at least one information source includes historical information regarding prior transactions in the transit system made with the fare media;
making a determination to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system based, at least in part, on the denial code and the information related to the user from the at least one information source;
receiving, at the access control point, the account identifier from the fare media at a second time; and
granting access to the user at the access control point of the transit system.
2. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending information indicative of the determination to the access control point.
3. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 2, further comprising storing the information indicative of the determination at the access control point.
4. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 3, further comprising storing the information indicative of the determination on a list having information for granting access to the transit system.
5. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 1, wherein the information related to the user comprises a value.
6. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 5, further comprising updating the value based, at least in part, on the denial code.
7. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 5, wherein making the determination whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system is based, at least in part, on whether the value exceeds a certain threshold value.
8. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one information source comprises one or more of:
a financial institution associated with the financial account,
an employer system, or
a government system.
9. The method for determining to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 1, wherein the historical information regarding prior transactions comprises one or more of:
a use history,
a recharge history, or
a velocity history.
10. A system for executing advanced decision logic for transit acceptance, the system comprising:
a communication interface coupled to a data communication network and configured to receive information indicative of an account identifier from a fare media at a first time, wherein the account identifier is:
unique to the fare media; and
associated with a financial account;

an authorization subsystem configured to:
send information indicative of the account identifier for authorization of a payment; and
receive an authorization response indicating a denial or acceptance of the authorization of the payment;

a processor communicatively coupled with the communication interface and the authorization subsystem, and configured to:
access at least one information source having information related to a user associated with the account identifier, wherein the at least one information source includes historical information regarding prior transit transactions made with the fare media;
make a determination whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system based, at least in part, on the authorization response and the information related to the user from the at least one information source; and
send information indicative of the determination using the communication interface.
11. The system for executing the advanced decision logic for transit acceptance as recited in claim 10, further comprising a database configured to store at least a portion of the historical information regarding the prior transit transactions made with the fare media.
12. The system for executing the advanced decision logic for transit acceptance as recited in claim 10, further comprising an access control point communicatively coupled with the communication interface and configured to receive the information indicative of the determination.
13. The system for executing the advanced decision logic for transit acceptance as recited in claim 12, wherein the access control point includes a memory configured to store the information indicative of the determination on a list having information for granting access to the transit system.
14. The system for executing the advanced decision logic for transit acceptance as recited in claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to make the determination whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system based, at least in part, on whether a value computed using the information related to the user exceeds a certain threshold value.
15. A non-transitory storage medium with computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to a user at an access control point of a transit system, the instructions comprising code for:
receiving an account identifier from a fare media at a first time, wherein the account identifier is:
unique to the fare media; and
associated with a financial account;

sending information indicative of the account identifier for authorization of a payment;
receiving an authorization response indicating a denial or acceptance of the authorization of the payment;
accessing at least one information source having information related to the user, wherein the at least one information source includes historical information regarding prior transactions in the transit system made with the fare media;
making a determination whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system based, at least in part, on the authorization response and the information related to the user from the at least one information source;
receiving, at the access control point, the account identifier from the fare media at a second time; and
performing an action at the access control point based on the determination.
16. The non-transitory storage medium with the computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 15, wherein the instructions comprising the code for performing the action at the access control point include instructions for granting access to the user at the access control point of the transit system.
17. The non-transitory storage medium with the computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise code for sending information indicative of the determination to the access control point.
18. The non-transitory storage medium with the computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise code for storing the information indicative of the determination at the access control point.
19. The non-transitory storage medium with the computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 15, wherein the information related to the user comprises a value.
20. The non-transitory storage medium with the computer-readable instructions for determining whether to grant access to the user at the access control point of the transit system as recited in claim 19, wherein the instructions further comprise code for updating the value based, at least in part, on the authorization response.

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

1-27. (canceled)
28. A downhole motor, comprising:
a bearing assembly, including a housing and an elongate mandrel rotatably disposed within the housing, the mandrel having a central mandrel axis, a first end configured to couple to a drill bit, a second end opposite the first end, and a mandrel bore extending axially from the first end to the second end;
a rotary drive system disposed within the bearing assembly, wherein the rotary drive system includes:
a rotor rotatably disposed within the housing;
an annular space between the rotor and the housing;
wherein the rotor includes a central rotor axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a rotor bore extending axially from the first end to the second end;
wherein the mandrel is concentrically received within and is coaxially aligned with the rotor bore such that the mandrel is configured to rotate along with the rotor about the rotor axis;
a fluid inlet port extending radially from the mandrel bore to the annular space;
a fluid outlet port extending radially from the annular space to the mandrel bore;
a plurality of elongate gates disposed within the annular space, each of the plurality of elongate gates configured to engage the rotor and the housing;
a plurality of longitudinal lobes extending radially within the annular space;
wherein the plurality of longitudinal lobes and the plurality of elongate gates divide the annular space into a plurality of circumferentially adjacent, axially extending longitudinal chambers; and
a first fluid flow path defined by the annular space between the inlet port and the outlet port;

wherein the rotor and mandrel are configured to rotate relative to the housing when a fluid is circulated along the first fluid flow path.
29. The downhole motor of claim 28, wherein the bearing assembly further includes a first radial bearing and a second radial bearing;
wherein the first radial bearing and the second radial bearing are each configured to support radially directed loads with respect to the central mandrel axis; and
wherein the first radial bearing is proximate the first end of the rotor and the second radial bearing is proximate the second end of the rotor.
30. The downhole motor of claim 28, wherein the mandrel is coupled to the rotor through a splined connection.
31. The downhole motor of claim 28, further comprising a bent housing, wherein the rotary drive system is axially disposed between the first end of the mandrel and the bent housing.
32. The downhole motor of claim 28, wherein each of the plurality of elongate gates is pivotally coupled to the housing and each is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to and radially spaced from the rotor axis.
33. The downhole motor of claim 32, wherein each of the plurality of elongate gates has a free edge and wherein the free edge is biased into engagement with the rotor.
34. The downhole motor of claim 28, further comprising a flow control assembly disposed in the mandrel bore and configured to control the flow of the fluid along the first flow path to regulate one of a rotational speed of the rotor and mandrel or a torque applied to the mandrel.
35. The downhole motor of claim 34, further comprising:
a second fluid flow path defined by the mandrel bore between the inlet port and the outlet port;
wherein the flow control assembly selectively diverts a portion of the fluid to the second flow path when a differential pressure between the inlet port and the outlet port reaches a pre-determined value.
36. The downhole motor of claim 35, wherein the flow control assembly comprises a relief valve.
37. The downhole motor of claim 34, wherein the flow control assembly is axially disposed between the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port.
38. A rotary drive system for a downhole motor comprising:
a housing having a central axis;
a rotor rotatably disposed within the housing;
an annular space radially disposed between the rotor and the housing;
wherein the rotor has a central rotor axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a rotor bore extending axially from the first end to the second end, a plurality of fluid inlet ports extending radially from the rotor bore to the annular space, and a plurality of fluid outlet ports extending radially from the annular space to the rotor bore, wherein each and every one of the fluid inlet ports is axially spaced from each and every one of the fluid outlet ports;
a plurality of elongate gates disposed within the annular space, each of the plurality of elongate gates configured to engage both the rotor and the housing; and
a plurality of longitudinal lobes extending radially within the annular space;
wherein the plurality of longitudinal lobes and the plurality of elongate gates divide the annular space into a plurality of circumferentially adjacent, axially extending longitudinal chambers;
a first fluid flow path defined by the annular space between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports;
wherein the rotor and the housing are configured to rotate relative to each other when a fluid is circulated along the first fluid flow path;
a flow control assembly disposed in the rotor bore and configured to control the flow of the fluid along the first flow path to regulate one of a rotational speed of the rotor or a torque applied to the rotor.
39. The rotary drive system of claim 38, further comprising:
a second fluid flow path defined by the rotor bore between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports;
wherein the flow control assembly selectively diverts a portion of the fluid to the second flow path when a differential pressure between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports reaches a pre-determined value.
40. The rotary drive system of claim 39, wherein the flow control assembly comprises a relief valve.
41. The rotary drive system of claim 38, wherein the flow control assembly is axially disposed between the plurality of fluid inlet ports and the plurality of fluid outlet ports.
42. A downhole motor, comprising:
a bearing assembly, including an elongate mandrel, the mandrel having a central mandrel axis, a first end configured to couple to a drill bit, and a second end opposite the first end;
a rotary drive system coupled to the bearing assembly and including:
a housing;
a rotor rotatably disposed within the housing;
an annular space between the rotor and the housing;
wherein the rotor includes a central rotor axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a rotor bore extending axially from the first end to the second end, a fluid inlet port extending radially from the rotor bore to the annular space, and a fluid outlet port extending radially from the annular space to the rotor bore;
wherein the first end of the rotor is coupled to the second end of the mandrel;
a plurality of elongate gates disposed within the annular space, each of the plurality of elongate gates configured to engage the rotor and the housing; and
a plurality of longitudinal lobes extending radially within the annular space;
wherein the plurality of longitudinal lobes and the plurality of elongate gates divide the annular space into a plurality of circumferentially adjacent, axially extending longitudinal chambers;
a first fluid flow path defined by the annular space between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports;
wherein the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the housing when a fluid is circulated along the first fluid flow path;
wherein the mandrel and the rotor are coaxially aligned.
43. The downhole motor of claim 42, wherein the second end of the mandrel is directly connected to the first end of the rotor.
44. The downhole motor of claim 43, wherein the second end of the mandrel is directly connected to the first end of the rotor with one of a splined connection, a threaded connection, and corresponding mating lugs.
45. The downhole motor of claim 42, wherein the second end of the mandrel is coupled to the first end of the rotor with a coupling member.
46. The downhole motor of claim 45,
wherein the coupling member includes:
a first end;
a second end opposite the first end;
internal threading disposed on the first end; and
splines disposed on the second end;

wherein the second end of the mandrel includes external threading that is configured to engage with the internal threading on the first end of the coupling member; and
wherein the first end of the rotor includes splines that are configured to engage with the splines disposed on the second end of the coupling member.
47. The downhole motor of claim 42, further comprising a bent housing, wherein the rotary drive system is axially disposed between the bearing assembly and the bent housing.
48. The downhole motor of claim 42, wherein each of the plurality of elongate gates is pivotally coupled to the housing and each is configured to pivot about a pivot axis that is parallel to and radially spaced from the rotor axis.
49. The downhole motor of claim 42, wherein each of the plurality of elongate gates has a free edge and wherein the free edge is biased into engagement with the rotor.
50. The downhole motor of claim 42, further comprising a flow control assembly disposed in the rotor bore and configured to control the flow of the fluid along the first flow path to regulate one of a rotational speed of the rotor or a torque applied to the rotor.
51. The rotary drive system of claim 42, further comprising:
a second fluid flow path defined by the rotor bore between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports;
wherein the flow control assembly selectively diverts a portion of the fluid to the second flow path when a differential pressure between the plurality of inlet ports and the plurality of outlet ports reaches a pre-determined value.
52. The rotary drive system of claim 51, wherein the flow control assembly comprises a relief valve.
53. The rotary drive system of claim 50, wherein the flow control assembly is axially disposed between the plurality of fluid inlet ports and the plurality of fluid outlet ports.
54. A downhole motor, comprising:
a housing having a downhole end and an uphole end opposite the downhole end;
a bent housing coupled to the uphole end of the housing;
a bearing assembly including an elongate mandrel rotatably disposed within the housing, the mandrel having a central mandrel axis, a downhole end, and a uphole end opposite the downhole end;
wherein the downhole end of the mandrel is configured to couple to a drill bit; and
a drive system disposed between the bent housing and the bearing assembly, the drive system including:
at least one rotor rotatably disposed within the housing, the rotor having a central rotor axis; an uphole end, and a downhole end opposite the uphole end, wherein the mandrel is configured to rotate with the rotor;
an annular space between the rotor and the housing;
a fluid inlet port extending radially from the rotor bore to the annular space;
a fluid outlet port extending radially from the annular space to the rotor bore;
a plurality of elongate gates configured to engage the rotor and the housing; and
a plurality of longitudinal lobes extending radially within the annular space;
wherein the plurality of longitudinal lobes and the plurality of elongate gates divide the annular space into a plurality of circumferentially adjacent axially extending longitudinal chambers;
a first fluid flow path defined by the annular space between the fluid inlet port and the fluid outlet port;
wherein the rotor and the housing are configured to rotate relative to each other when a fluid is circulated along the first fluid flow path.
55. The downhole motor of claim 54, wherein the mandrel is directly connected to the rotor.
56. The downhole motor of claim 55, wherein the second end of the mandrel is connected to the first end of the rotor with a splined connection.
57. The downhole motor of claim 55, wherein the second end of the mandrel is connected to the first end of the rotor with mating lugs.
58. The downhole motor of claim 54, wherein the second end of the mandrel is connected to the rotor with a coupling member.
59. The downhole motor of claim 58,
wherein the coupling member comprises:
a first end;
a second end opposite the first end;
internal threading disposed on the first end; and
splines disposed on the second end;

wherein the second end of the mandrel includes external threading that is configured to engage with the internal threading on the first end of the coupling member; and
wherein the first end of the rotor includes splines that are configured to engage with the splines disposed on the second end of the coupling member.
60. The downhole motor of claim 54, wherein the mandrel and the rotor are coaxially aligned.