Author: claimsbot

1. A method of fabricating a microlens, comprising:
forming a compound semiconductor layer having a reactive metal on a substrate;
etching the compound semiconductor layer, and forming a compound semiconductor layer pattern; and
partially removing a lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer pattern, and forming a lens layer,
wherein the compound semiconductor layer is formed by a digital alloy method, the compound semiconductor layer includes a reactive layer containing the reactive metal and a semiconductor layer composed of a compound semiconductor containing no reactive metal, and the concentration of the reactive metal is higher in an upper position of the compound semiconductor layer.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound semiconductor layer is formed by repeatedly stacking the reactive layer and the semiconductor layer, and the reactive layer becomes thicker in an upper position of the compound semiconductor layer.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compound semiconductor layer is formed by an epitaxial growth process.
4. The method according to claim 1, after forming the compound semiconductor layer, further comprising forming a screen layer on the compound semiconductor layer, the screen layer being formed of a material having an etch selectivity with respect to the compound semiconductor layer.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the screen layer is formed by an epitaxial growth process.
6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising removing the screen layer remaining on the lens layer after forming the lens layer.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein partially removing the compound semiconductor layer pattern is performed by a wet etching process.
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reactive metal is aluminum (Al).
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the reactive layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of AlGaAs, InGaAlAs, and InGaAlN, and the semiconductor layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of GaAs, InGaAs, and InGaN.
10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the wet etching process is performed using a BOE (buffered oxide etchant) as an etchant
11. A method of fabricating a microlens, comprising:
forming a compound semiconductor layer on a substrate by repeatedly stacking a reactive layer containing a reactive metal and a semiconductor layer containing no reactive metal using an epitaxial growth process, the reactive layer being thicker in an upper position of the compound semiconductor layer;
forming a screen layer on the compound semiconductor layer to protect a top surface of the compound semiconductor layer;
selectively etching the compound semiconductor layer and the screen layer, and forming a compound semiconductor layer pattern and a screen layer pattern;
forming a lens layer by etching a lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer pattern, wherein an upper portion of the compound semiconductor layer pattern, in which the content of the reactive metal is high, is etched at a high etch rate, and a lower portion of the compound semiconductor layer pattern, in which the content of the reactive metal is low, is etched at a low etch rate; and
removing the screen layer pattern remaining on the lens layer, and exposing the lens layer.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the reactive metal is aluminum (Al).
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein etching the lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer pattern is performed by a wet etching process using a BOE as an etchant.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the reactive layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of AlGaAs, InGaAlAs, and InGaAlN.
15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the screen layer is formed by an epitaxial growth process performed in-situ during the formation of the compound semiconductor layer.
16. A microlens fabricated by a method comprising:
forming a compound semiconductor layer having a reactive metal on a substrate;
etching the compound semiconductor layer, and forming a compound semiconductor layer pattern; and
partially etching a lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer pattern, and forming a lens layer,
wherein the compound semiconductor layer is formed by a digital alloy method and includes a reactive layer containing the reactive metal and a semiconductor layer composed of a compound semiconductor containing no the reactive metal, and the concentration of the reactive metal is higher in an upper position of the compound semiconductor layer.
17. The microlens according to claim 16, wherein the reactive metal is aluminum (Al), and the reactive layer is formed of one selected from the group consisting of AlGaAs, InGaAlAs, and InGaAlN.
18. The microlens according to claim 17, wherein the lens layer is formed by a wet etching process using a BOE as an etchant.
19. The microlens according to claim 16, wherein the compound semiconductor layer is formed by an epitaxial growth process.

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

I claim:

1. A configuration for minimizing a Nel interaction, comprising:
a first asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system having a first ferromagnetic sublayer, a second ferromagnetic sublayer, and a first spacer layer disposed between said first and second ferromagnetic sublayers;
a separating layer, said first ferromagnetic sublayer being oriented toward said separating layer and having a smaller layer thickness than said second ferromagnetic sublayer of said first asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system; and
a second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system having a first ferromagnetic sublayer oriented toward said separating layer, a second ferromagnetic sublayer, and a second spacer layer disposed between said first and second ferromagnetic sublayers of said second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferrromagnetic layer system, said first ferromagnetic sublayer of said second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system having a smaller layer thickness than said second ferromagnetic sublayer of said second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system, and resulting total magnetizations of said first and second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer systems being accumulated vectorially in a manner that compensates for the Nel interaction between said first ferromagnetic sublayer of said first asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system and said first ferromagnetic sublayer of said second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system each being oriented toward said separating layer.
2. The configuration according to claim 1, wherein said first symmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system is a reference layer system and said second asymmetrical artificial anti-ferromagnetic layer system is a memory layer system of a magneto-resistive memory cell.
3. The configuration according to claim 2, wherein said magneto-resistive memory cell is based on a tunnel effect and said separating layer is composed of a dielectric material and functioning as a tunnel barrier.
4. The configuration according to claim 3, further comprising at least one exchange bias layer disposed at a surface of said reference layer system lying remote from said tunnel barrier and a magnetization of said exchange bias layer is fixedly coupled to a magnetization of said reference layer system.
5. The configuration according to claim 4, wherein said exchange bias layer extends beyond dimensions of said reference layer system in a plane parallel to said tunnel barrier.

We claim:

1. A method of making a hands-free mobile telephone call comprising the steps of:
accessing an electronic telephone directory;
searching the electronic telephone directory;
sending a signal to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory;
generating an audible announcement of the entry in the electronic telephone directory; and
sending a signal to the mobile telephone to make the mobile telephone call.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a satellite remote is used to access the electronic telephone directory, to search the electronic telephone directory, to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory, and to send the signal to the mobile telephone to make the mobile telephone call.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote comprises a pad that is located on a steering wheel of a motor vehicle.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote comprises a pad that is located such that a user may operate the satellite remote using the user’s foot.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote includes a scrolling device for searching through the electronic telephone directory and sending a signal to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote searches through the electronic telephone directory by name.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote searches through the electronic telephone directory by telephone number.
8. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote searches through the electronic telephone directory by one entry at a time.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote searches through the electronic telephone directory by multiple entries at one time.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the multiple entries are grouped by a letter of the alphabet and the satellite remote searches through the electronic telephone directory by the letters of the alphabet.
11. The method of claim 2, wherein the satellite remote is constructed and arranged to search through the electronic telephone directory by one entry at a time and by multiple entries at one time.
12. The method of claim 2, wherein searching the electronic telephone directory and sending a signal to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory is accomplished using an infrared signal.
13. The method of claim 2, wherein searching the electronic telephone directory and sending a signal to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory is accomplished using a radio frequency signal.
14. The method of claim 2, wherein searching the electronic telephone directory and sending a signal to select an entry in the electronic telephone directory is accomplished using a wire connecting the satellite remote and the mobile telephone.
15. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a signal to the mobile telephone to answer an incoming mobile telephone call using the satellite remote.
16. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a signal to the mobile telephone to activate a call-waiting feature using the satellite remote.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the electronic telephone directory comprises accessing an electronic telephone directory in the mobile telephone.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing the electronic telephone directory comprises accessing an electronic telephone directory in an external memory system.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an audible announcement of the entry in the electronic telephone directory includes using a speaker or earphone to permit a user to hear the audible announcement.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an audible announcement of the entry in the electronic telephone directory includes using a mobile telephone speakerphone or earphone to permit a user to hear the audible announcement.
21. The method of claim 1, wherein generating an audible announcement of the entry in the electronic telephone directory includes using a motor-vehicle speaker or earphone to permit a user to hear the audible announcement.
22. A mobile communications system comprising:
an electronic telephone directory;
a satellite remote having at least one means for scrolling through the electronic telephone directory;
means for audibly announcing a party to be called; and
means for sending a signal from the satellite remote to the mobile telephone.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the electronic telephone directory is located in the mobile telephone.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the electronic telephone directory is an external memory system.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for scrolling through the telephone directory comprises a scrolling device for searching through the electronic telephone directory.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the scrolling device is constructed and arranged to search through the electronic telephone directory by name.
27. The system of claim 25, wherein the scrolling device is constructed and arranged to search through the electronic telephone directory by telephone number.
28. The system of claim 25, wherein the scrolling device is constructed and arranged to search through the electronic telephone directory by one entry at a time.
29. The system of claim 25, wherein the scrolling device is constructed and arranged to search through the electronic telephone directory by multiple entries at one time.
30. The system of claim 25, wherein the scrolling device is constructed and arranged to search through the telephone directory by one entry at a time and the satellite remote further includes means for searching through the telephone directory by multiple entries at one time.
31. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for audibly announcing a party to be called comprises a speaker or earphone.
32. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for audibly announcing a party to be called comprises a mobile telephone speakerphone or earphone.
33. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for audibly announcing a party to be called comprises a motor-vehicle speaker or earphone.
34. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for sending a signal from the satellite remote to the mobile telephone comprises an infrared signal.
35. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for sending a signal from the satellite remote to the mobile telephone comprises a radio frequency signal.
36. The system of claim 22, wherein the means for sending a signal from the satellite remote to the mobile telephone comprises a wire connecting the cradle and the satellite remote.
37. The system of claim 22, further comprising a cradle for holding the mobile telephone and receiving the signal from the satellite remote.
38. A mobile communications system comprising:
an electronic telephone directory;
a satellite remote having a scroll wheel for scrolling through the electronic telephone directory;
an electronic voice generator for audibly announcing a party to be called; and
a button for sending a signal from the satellite remote to the mobile telephone.

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 implantable cardiac system, comprising:
a cardiac electrode, the electrode configured for subcutaneous placement within a patient and for one or both of cardiac monitoring and cardiac electrical stimulation;
an implantable can;
a pharmacological agent provided along an exterior surface of the implantable can;
a power source; and
a driving arrangement coupled to the can, the driving arrangement comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride layer and a conducting surface coating along the polyvinylidene fluoride layer and said driving arrangement in electrical connection with the power source, the driving arrangement configured to provide sonophoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent from the exterior surface along which the pharmacological agent is provided to subcutaneous tissue by power source electrical activation of the conducting surface coating causing movement of the polyvinylidene fluoride layer.
2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a rigid elongated support structure coupled to the can, wherein the cardiac electrode is provided on the rigid elongated support structure.
3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the rigid elongated support structure is configured to maintain the cardiac electrode and a second electrode on the can in opposition with respect to the ventricles of the heart.
4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an implantable pharmacological agent reservoir within the can.
5. The system according to claim 4, further comprising a micro-pump configured to facilitate transport of the pharmacological agent from the reservoir to the exterior surface along which the pharmacological agent is provided.
6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to generate an acoustic field that impels the pharmacological agent into subcutaneous tissue.
7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pharmacological agent is disposed along the conducting surface coating.
8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing serves as an electrical ground for the driving arrangement.
9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to generate an ultrasonic field that drives the pharmacological agent into subcutaneous tissue.
10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driving arrangement facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent after delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driving arrangement facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent before delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the pharmacological agent is disposed on the polyvinylidene fluoride layer.
13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to deliver an AC signal alternating at an ultrasonic frequency to the conducting surface coating to provide sonophoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent.
14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to deliver a DC bias voltage with an AC signal alternating at an ultrasonic frequency to the conducting surface coating to provide sonophoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent.
15. An implantable system, comprising:
a can;
a pharmacological agent provided on a portion of an exterior surface of the can;
a power source;
a can electrode, the electrode configured for subcutaneous non-intrathoracic placement within a patient and for one or both of cardiac monitoring and cardiac electrical stimulation; and
a driving arrangement in electrical connection with the power source and coupled to the can, the driving arrangement comprising a polyvinylidene fluoride layer and a conducting surface coating along the polyvinylidene fluoride layer, the driving arrangement configured to provide sonophoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent from at least the portion of the exterior surface of the can to subcutaneous tissue by power source electrical activation of the conducting surface coating and movement of the polyvinylidene fluoride layer.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to generate an acoustic field that impels the pharmacological agent into subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic tissue.
17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the driving arrangement is configured to generate an ultrasonic field that drives the pharmacological agent into subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic tissue.
18. The system according to claim 15, further comprising an implantable pharmacological agent reservoir and a micro-pump configured to facilitate transport of pharmacological agent from the reservoir to the exterior surface of the can.
19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the pharmacological agent is disposed along the conducting surface coating.
20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least part of the driving arrangement comprises an external driver detachably coupled to the can, the external driver configured to provide power and control for phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent during surgical implantation of the can.
21. The system according to claim 15, wherein the can comprises a porous region on the portion of the exterior surface, the pharmacological agent at least partially filling pores of the porous region.
22. The system according to claim 21, wherein the porous region comprises a doped polymer matrix.
23. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a lead body coupled to the can, wherein the lead body and the can form a rigid unitary structure having an arcuate shape.
24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the coating covers at least 25% of a surface area of the can.
25. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a lead coupled to the can, the lead comprising an electrode and a rigid elongated support structure configured to stabilize and maintain a spacing between the electrode and the implantable can in subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic tissue within the patient.
26. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driving arrangement facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent after delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
27. The system according to claim 15, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driving arrangement facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent before delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
28. An implantable cardiac lead system, comprising:
a lead body having a ground layer;
a cardiac electrode coupled to the lead body, the electrode configured for subcutaneous placement in a patient and for one or both of cardiac monitoring and cardiac electrical stimulation;
an implantable can coupled to the lead body;
one or more conductors coupled to the electrode and disposed within the lead body;
a pharmacological agent provided along one or both of the can and a longitudinal portion of an exterior surface of the lead body over the ground layer;
a power source; and
means, in electrical connection with the power source, for impelling the pharmacological agent into subcutaneous tissue using sonophoresis, wherein the impelling means comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride layer and a conducting surface coating along the polyvinylidene fluoride layer, and the polyvinylidene fluoride layer and the conducting surface coating are provided along one or both of the can and the longitudinal portion of the lead body along which the pharmacological agent is provided.
29. The lead system according to claim 28, wherein the impelling means comprises means for impelling the pharmacological agent using sonophoresis by electrical activation of the conducting surface coating causing movement of the polyvinylidene fluoride layer.
30. The lead system according to claim 28, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driving arrangement facilitates sonophoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent after delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
31. The lead system according to claim 28, wherein the lead body comprises a rigid elongated support structure configured to stabilize and maintain a spacing between the cardiac electrode and the implantable can in subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic tissue within the patient.
32. A system, comprising:
an implantable medical device, comprising:
a can that houses circuitry configured to provide one or both of cardiac monitoring and cardiac stimulation;
a lead coupled to the can, the lead comprising a lead body, a cardiac electrode coupled to the lead body, a ground layer, and one or more conductors coupled to the cardiac electrode and disposed within the lead body, the electrode configured for subcutaneous placement within a patient and for one or both of cardiac monitoring and cardiac electrical stimulation;
a first pharmacological agent provided along at least a longitudinal portion of an exterior surface of the lead body; and
a second pharmacological agent provided on a portion of an exterior surface of the can; and

a driver apparatus detachably coupled to the implantable medical device, the driver apparatus comprising a power source and a plurality of polyvinylidene fluoride layers and a plurality of conducting surface coatings each disposed along respective polyvinylidene fluoride layers of the plurality of polyvinylidene fluoride layers, the driver apparatus configured to facilitate sonophoresis delivery of at least one of the first pharmacological agent from the longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the lead body over the ground layer and the second pharmacological agent from the portion of the exterior surface of the can by power source electrical activation of the conducting surface coatings and movement of the polyvinylidene fluoride layers.
33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the lead comprises an rigid elongated support structure configured to stabilize and maintain a spacing between the cardiac electrode and the can in subcutaneous, non-intrathoracic tissue within the patient.
34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the lead and the can form a unitary structure having an arcuate shape.
35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the rigid elongated support structure is configured to maintain the cardiac electrode and a second electrode disposed on the can in opposition with respect to the ventricles of the heart.
36. The system according to claim 32, wherein the polyvinylidene fluoride layers and the conducting surface coatings are provided at least along the longitudinal portion of the exterior surface of the lead body.
37. The system according to claim 32, wherein the driver apparatus is configured to deliver an AC signal alternating at an ultrasonic frequency to the conducting surface coatings to provide sonophoresis delivery.
38. The system according to claim 32, wherein the driver apparatus is configured to deliver a DC bias voltage with an AC signal alternating at an ultrasonic frequency to the conducting surface coatings to provide sonophoresis delivery.
39. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driver apparatus facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent after delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
40. The system according to claim 32, further comprising a controller configured to coordinate phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent relative to electrical cardiac stimulation therapy such that the driver apparatus facilitates phoresis delivery of the pharmacological agent before delivery of electrical cardiac stimulation therapy.
41. The system according to claim 32, further comprising an implantable pharmacological agent reservoir within the can.
42. The system according to claim 41, further comprising a micro-pump configured to facilitate transport of pharmacological agent from the reservoir to the exterior surface of the lead body and the exterior surface of the can.