All The Claims

1. A reflecting optical element comprising a substrate and an optical multilayer system whose reflectance is maximized for a specified operating wavelength in the EUV wavelength range and whose layer materials have absorption indices kki1, wherein the layer materials have refractive indices nini1, and wherein the layer material or the layer thickness of at least one layer of the multilayer system, or a combination thereof is selected such that a standing wave which forms during reflection of the irradiated operating wavelength, forms a node of the electrical field strength (node condition) in an area of a free interface of the multilayer system.
2. The optical element according to clam 1, wherein the multilayer system comprises a layer pack which is optimized for high reflectance (resonance section), and wherein the layer material or the thickness of at least one of the layers of the resonance section, or combinations thereof meet the node condition.
3. The optical element according to claim 2, wherein the layer thickness of at least a part of the layers of the resonance section decreases or increases as the number of layers increases.
4. The optical element according to claim 3, wherein the layer thickness of at least a part of the layers of the resonance section varies as the number of layers increases.
5. The optical element according to one of claim 1, wherein within the resonance section, a layer pack (phase transition section) has been provided, wherein the layer material or the layer thickness of at least one of the layers of the phase transition section, or combinations thereof is set so as to meet the node condition.
6. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein on the resonance section, the multilayer system comprises at least one further layer system wherein the layer material or layer thickness of at least one of the layers of the further layer system, or combinations thereof is set so as to meet the node condition.
7. The optical element according to claim 6, wherein the further layer system comprises at least one protective layer (cap section).
8. The optical element according to claim 7, wherein the protective layer comprises a material with weak absorption at operating wavelengths, with the half-value thickness of said material exceeding 50 nm.
9. The optical element according to claim 7, wherein the protective layer comprises Ru, Rh, Si, Mb, Zr, Nb, B, C, N, andor O, or their alloys or compounds.
10. The optical element according to claim 6, wherein the further layer system is arranged between the resonance section and the cap, section (phase matching section).
11. A method for determining a design of a multilayer system of an optical element comprising the steps of: cycling through the following steps is undertaken in a process of iteration at least once or several times:
Adetermining the design in a modeling step by means of model calculations, taking into account the materials of the layers and the specified characteristics of the multilayer system;
Bcoating the substrate during a coating step in a coating apparatus according to a previously prepared model design for the manufacture of a model element; and
Cdetermining by means of experiments during a characterization step the true properties of the model element; and
in which the iteration process is completed when the actual characteristics within a specified bandwidth agree with the specified characteristics,
wherein in step A the layer material or the layer thickness of at least one layer, or combinations thereof is selected such that the standing wave which forms when the irradiated operating wavelength is reflected, in the area of the free interface of the multilayer system comprises a node of the electrical field strength, and
in step C the reflectance curve and the photocurrent curve, which both depend on the irradiated photon energy, are measured and that iteration ceases when the absolute maximum of the reflectance curve agrees with the absolute minimum of the photocurrent curve within a specified range.
12. The method according to claim 11, wherein iteration ceases when the position of the absolute maximum of the reflectance curve, depending on the irradiated photon energy, agrees with the position of the absolute minimum of the photocurrent curve within a quarter of the bandwidth (FWHM) of the reflectance curve.
13. A method for manufacturing an optical element in which an optical multilayer system is deposited onto a substrate, wherein the layer materials or the thickness of the layers of the multilayer system, or combinations thereof was determined by means of a method according to claim 11.
14. A method of manufacturing a reflecting optical element comprising the steps of: depositing an optical multilayer system onto a substrate using layer materials having absorption indices kiki1, wherein layer materials having refractive indices nini1, are used and the layer materials or the thickness of at least one layer, or combinations thereof is selected such that a standing wave, which forms during reflection of the irradiated operating wavelength, forms a node, spaced by 20% of the irradiated operating wavelength from the free interface of the multilayer system.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the thickness or the material of the layers, or combinations thereof is selected such that the node is situated in front of the free interface of the multilayer system, and that the multilayer system is exposed to a vacuum with residual gas molecules, such as hydrocarbon molecules or water molecules or combinations thereof, and exposed to irradiation in the EUV wavelength range.
16. A lithography apparatus comprising: an illumination system for the EUV wavelength range, comprising a holding device for a mask, and comprising a substrate table, wherein the illumination device comprises a projection device for imaging an irradiated mask section on a substrate, wherein at least one reflecting optical element of the irradiation system comprises a multilayer system wherein the layer materials have absorption indices kiki1 and refractive indices nini1 and the layer material or the layer thickness of at least one layer, or combinations thereof is selected such that a standing wave, which forms during reflection of the irradiated operating wavelength, forms a node of the electrical field strength in an area of a free interface of the multilayer system.
17. The lithography apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the reflecting optical element is a mirror.
18. The lithography apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the reflecting optical element is a mask.
19. A method for producing a semiconductor element, involving the steps of:
providing a semiconductor substrate which is at least in part coated with a radiation-sensitive material;
providing a photomask; and
illuminating the photomask and imaging said photomask on the radiation-sensitive coating of the semiconductor substrate; wherein for illumination or imaging, or combinations thereof, an optical system is used which comprises at least one optical element according to claim 1.
20. A semiconductor device manufactured in accordance with the method according to claim 19.

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

1-208. (canceled)
209. A method of treating or preventing hypertension comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a composition comprising an effective amount of epicatechin, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or an oxidation product thereof wherein the subject is a human or a veterinary animal.
210. The method of claim 209, wherein the composition comprises an effective amount of epicatechin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
211. The method of claim 209, wherein the composition comprises an effective amount of epicatechin.
212. The method of claim 209, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
213. The method of claim 210, wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition.
214. The method of claim 210, wherein the subject is a human.
215. The method of claim 214, wherein the human suffers from hypertension.
216. The method of claim 209, wherein the composition is a food.
217. The method of claim 211, wherein the composition is a food.
218. The method of claim 217, wherein the food is a cocoa beverage.
219. The method of claim 218, wherein the cocoa beverage comprises non-alkalized cocoa solids.
220. The method of claim 217, wherein the food is a confectionery.
221. The method of claim 217, wherein the food is a chocolate.
222. The method of claim 221, wherein the chocolate comprises non-alkalized cocoa solids or liquor.
223. The method of claim 221, wherein the chocolate comprises CP-cocoa solids in powder or liquid form.
224. The method of claim 209, wherein the composition is a dietary supplement.
225. The method of claim 211, wherein the composition is a dietary supplement.
226. The method of claim 217, wherein the food is a pet food.
227. The method of claim 211, wherein the epicatechin is in the form of a cocoa extract or cocoa extract fraction.
228. A pharmaceutical composition comprising epicatechin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or an oxidation product thereof in the amount effective to treat or prevent hypertension.
229. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 228 comprising epicatechin or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
230. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 228, adapted for administration by injection.
231. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 228, adapted for oral administration.
232. An article of manufacture comprising
(i) a container;
(ii) a composition within the container, the composition comprising epicatechin; and
(iii) instructions directing use of the composition for therapy or prophylaxis of hypertension.
233. The article of manufacture of claim 232, wherein the composition is a cocoa beverage.
234. The article of manufacture of claim 232, wherein the cocoa beverage comprises non-alkalized cocoa solids.
235. The article of manufacture of claim 232, wherein the composition is chocolate.
236. The article of manufacture of claim 235, wherein the chocolate comprises non-alkalized cocoa solids or liquor.
237. The article of manufacture of claim 235, wherein the chocolate comprises CP-cocoa solids in powder or liquid form.

1-9. (canceled)
10. A motor vehicle state detecting system for detecting an unstable state of a motor vehicle or alternatively a prognostic sign thereof, comprising:
first detecting means for detecting an actual measured value of a first parameter corresponding to either a side slip angle or alternatively a steering angle of said motor vehicle;
second detecting means for detecting an actual measured value of a second parameter corresponding to either an alignment torque or alternatively a transverse acceleration which said motor vehicle is subjected to;
arithmetic means for arithmetically determining a third parameter relevant to a correlation which said first and second parameters bear to each other;
reference value setting means for setting in advance a comparison reference value for said third parameter;
motor vehicle behavior stability decision means for making decision that behavior of said motor vehicle is unstable when said third parameter departs from said comparison reference value;
vehicle speed detecting means for detecting a running speed of said motor vehicle as a vehicle speed,
wherein said first detecting means is designed to detect an actual steering angle of said motor vehicle as an actual measured value of said first parameter,
wherein said second detecting means is designed to detect as an actual measured value of said second parameter an actual alignment torque applied to said motor vehicle from a road surface in the course of running of said motor vehicle, and
wherein said arithmetic means is designed to arithmetically determine the change rate of said actual alignment torque for said actual steering angle as a torquesteering-angle change rate which serves as said third parameter,
wherein said reference value setting means is designed to set as a comparison reference value a predetermined range for said torquesteering-angle change rate in dependence on said motor vehicle concerned and said vehicle speed, and
wherein said motor vehicle behavior stability decision means is designed to determine that behavior of said motor vehicle is unstable when said torquesteering-angle change rate departs from said predetermined range.
11. A motor vehicle state detecting system according to claim 10, wherein
said arithmetic means includes:
time-based steering-angle change rate arithmetic means for arithmetically determining a time-based change rate of said actual steering angle as a time-based steering-angle change rate;
time-based torque change rate arithmetic means for arithmetically determining a time-based change rate of said actual alignment torque as a time-based torque change rate; and
torquesteering-angle change rate arithmetic means for dividing said time-based torque change rate by said time-based steering-angle change rate to thereby arithmetically derive said torquesteering-angle change rate.
12. A motor vehicle state detecting system according to claim 10,
wherein said arithmetic means includes:
travel distance arithmetic means for arithmetically determining travel distance of said motor vehicle;
distance-based steering-angle change rate arithmetic means for arithmetically determining a change rate of said actual steering angle for said travel distance as a distance-based steering-angle change rate;
distance-based torque change rate arithmetic means for arithmetically determining a change rate of said actual alignment torque for said travel distance as a distance-based torque change rate; and
torquesteering-angle change rate arithmetic means for dividing said distance-based torque change rate by said distance-based steering-angle change rate to thereby arithmetically derive said torquesteering-angle change rate.
13. A motor vehicle state detecting system according to claim 11, wherein
said arithmetic means includes:
lower limit value setting means for setting a lower limit permissible value for said time-based steering-angle change rate in dependence on the motor vehicle concerned and said vehicle speed;
predetermined change rate setting means for setting a predetermined change rate for said time-based torque change rate in dependence on the motor vehicle concerned; and
division arithmetic inhibiting means for inhibiting division processing executed by said torquesteering-angle change rate arithmetic means when said time-based steering-angle change rate is smaller than said lower limit permissible value,
wherein said motor vehicle behavior stability decision means determines that behavior of said motor vehicle is unstable when said time-based steering-angle change rate is smaller than said lower limit permissible value and when said time-based torque change rate is greater than or equal to said predetermined change rate.
14. A motor vehicle state detecting system according to claim 12, wherein
said arithmetic means includes:
lower limit value setting means for setting a lower limit permissible value for said distance-based steering-angle change rate in dependence on the motor vehicle concerned and said vehicle speed;
predetermined change rate setting means for setting a predetermined change rate for said distance-based torque change rate in dependence on the motor vehicle concerned; and
division arithmetic inhibiting means for inhibiting division processing executed by said torquesteering-angle change rate arithmetic means when said distance-based steering-angle change rate is smaller than said lower limit permissible value,
wherein said motor vehicle behavior stability decision means determines that behavior of said motor vehicle is unstable when said distance-based steering-angle change rate is smaller than said lower limit permissible value and when said distance-based torque change rate is greater than or equal to said predetermined change rate.
15-27. (canceled)

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

What is claimed is:

1. An adhesive backed measuring tape, comprising
(a) a flexible backing having two major surfaces, wherein one major surface has a measurement layer printed or contacted thereon, and
(b) a repositionable adhesive layer adhered to the other major surface of the flexible backing or to the measurement layer.
2. The tape of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer also is positionable.
3. The tape of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is adhered to the other major surface of the flexible backing.
4. The tape of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is adhered to the measurement layer.
5. The tape of claim 3, further comprising a low-adhesion backsize property on the measurement layer.
6. The tape of claim 4, further comprising a low-adhesion backsize property on the other major surface of the backing.
7. The tape of claim 1, wherein the measurement layer has alternating background colors at given intervals.
8. The tape of claim 1, wherein the tape has perforations at given intervals according to the measurement layer.
9. The tape of claim 1, wherein the measurement layer has a multiple of linear axes and a multiple of transverse axes, wherein each linear axis represents a linear segment of the measuring tape which is a function of the number of transverse axes.
10. The tape of claim 1, wherein the backing is selected from the group consisting of transparent materials, translucent materials, and opaque materials;
wherein the backing is selected from the group consisting of singularly colored materials, multiply colored materials, white materials, and black materials;
wherein the backing is selected from the group consisting of glossy materials, matte materials, metallic materials, reflective materials, retroreflective materials, and luminescent materials; and
optionally having a surface receptive to pen and pencil markings.
11. The tape of claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is composed of an acrylic pressure sensitive adhesive material.
12. The tape of claim 1, further comprising a symbol printed on the measurement layer, wherein the symbol is selected from the group consisting of a stud location marking, a promotional symbol, a branding indicium, and combinations thereof.
13. A method of using an adhesive backed measuring tape of claim 1, comprising the steps of:
(a) dispensing the measuring tape from a roll;
(b) applying the measuring tape to a substrate; and
(c) removing the measuring tape from the substrate.
14. An adhesive backed measuring tape, comprising:
a backing having two major surfaces,
wherein one major surface has a measurement layer printed or contacted thereon, wherein the measurement layer has a multiple of linear axes and a multiple of transverse axes, wherein each linear axis represents a linear segment of the measuring tape which is a function of the number of transverse axes, and
(b) a repositionable adhesive layer adhered to the other major surface of the backing or to the measurement layer.
15. The tape of claim 14, wherein the number of linear axes ranges from about 2 to about 20 measurement scales.
16. The tape of claim 14, wherein each linear segment is equally spaced.
17. The tape of claim 14, wherein background color on the measurement layer of each linear segment of a linear axis has a different color from another linear segment of the linear axis.
18. The tape of claim 17, wherein background color of the measurement layer of each linear axis has a different color from another linear axis.
19. The tape of claim 14, further comprising a symbol printed on the measurement layer, wherein the symbol is selected from the group consisting of a stud location marking, a promotional symbol, a branding indicium, and combinations thereof.
20. The tape of claim 14, wherein the measurement layer has multiple scales of different systems of measurement.
21. The tape of claim 14, wherein the backing is flexible and the adhesive layer is adhered to the other major surface of the flexible backing.