Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
1
[01J OFFSET PATHWAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENERGY CONDITIONING
[02] Cross Reference to Related Applications
[03] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application
Serial No.
09/845,680, filed April 30, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of co-
pending application Serial
No. 09/815,246 filed March 22, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of co-
pending application
Serial No. 09/777,021 filed February 5, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part
of co-pending
application, Serial No. 09/632,048 filed August 3, 2000, which is a
continuation-in-part of co-
pending application Serial No. 09/594,447 filed June 15, 2000, which is a
continuation-in-part of
co-pending application Serial No. 09/579,606 filed May 26, 2000, which is a
continuation-in-part
of co-pending application Serial No. 09/460,218 filed December 13, 1999, now
issued as U.S.
Patent Number 6,331,926, which is a continuation of application Serial No.
09/056,379 filed
April 7, 1998, now issued as U.S. Patent Number 6,018,448, which is a
continuation-in-part of
application Serial No. 09/008,769 filed January 19, 1998, now issued as U.S.
Patent Number
6,097,581, which is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.
08/841,940 filed April 8,
1997, now issued as U.S. Patent Number 5,909,350.
[04] In addition, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No.
60/280,819, filed April 2, 2001, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/302,429,
filed July 2, 2001,
U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/310,962, filed August 8, 2000, U.S.
Provisional Application
No. 60/ , filed January 7, 2002.
[OS] Technical Field
[06] This application relates to a predetermined, substantially symmetrically
balanced
amalgam that uses complementary relative offset groupings of energy pathways,
such as
electrodes, for various energy portion propagations, which relative offset
groupings can be
practicable, in-turn, for multiple energy conditioning functions. These
arrangements and/or at
least select variants thereof can be operable as discrete or non-discrete
embodiments practicable
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
2
and/or operable for sustaining electrically opposing and/or complementary
energy portion
confluences, which energy portion confluences, in accordance with the amalgam,
undergo
portions of energy conditioning as a portion of an energized circuit.
30 [07] Background
[08] Today, as the density of electronics within typical system applications
increases,
unwanted noise byproducts of the increased density limit the performance of
critical and non-
critical electronic circuitry. Consequently, the avoidance of the effects of
unwanted noise
byproducts, such as by isolation or immunization of circuit portions against
the effects of the
35 undesirable noise is an important consideration for most circuit
arrangements and circuit design.
[09] Differential and common mode noise energy can be generated by, and may
propagate
along and/or around, energy pathways, cables, circuit board tracks or traces,
high-speed
transmission lines, and/or bus line pathways. In many cases, these energy
conductors may act as,
for example, an antenna radiating energy fields. This antenna-analogous
performance may
40 exacerbate the noise byproduct problem in that, at higher frequencies,
propagating energy
portions utilizing prior art passive devices may experience increased levels
of energy parasitic
interference, such as various capacitive and/or inductive parasitics.
[010] These increases can be .due, in part, to the combination of constraints
due to the
functionally and/or structurally limitations of prior art solutions, coupled
with the inherent
45 manufacturing and/or design imbalances and/or performance deficiencies of
the prior art. These
deficiencies inherently create, or induce, operability highly conducive to
unwanted and/or
unbalanced interference energy that couples into an associated electrical
circuitry, thereby
making at least partial shielding from these parasitics and EMI desirable.
Consequently, for
broad frequency operating environments, solution of these problems
necessitates at least a
50 combination of simultaneous filtration of input and output lines, careful
systems layout having
various grounding or anti-noise arrangements, as well as extensive at least
partial isolating in
combination with at least partial electrostatic and/or electromagnetic
shielding.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
3
[011] Thus, a need exists for a self contained, energy-conditioning
arrangement utilizing
simple, predetermined arrangements of energy pathways and other predetermined
elements that,
55 when amalgamated into a discreet or non-discreet component, may be utilized
in almost any
circuit application for providing effective, symmetrically balanced, and
sustainable, simultaneous
energy conditioning functions selected from at least a decoupling function,
transient suppression
function, noise cancellation function, energy blocking function, and energy
suppression
functions utilizing at least a partial physical shielding as well as at least
partial electrostatic
60 shielding derived from a shielding energy pathway arrangement.
[012] Brief Description of the Drawings
[013] Understanding of an exemplary embodiment will be facilitated by
consideration of the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments taken in
conjunction with the
65 accompanying drawings, in which like numerals refer to like parts, and
wherein:.
[014] FIG. 1 is a exploded view of a minimum stacking sequence of an exemplary
embodiment
of a shielding electrode architecture having bypass electrodes with optional
outer "-IM"
shielding electrodes, in accordance at least one embodiment of a number of
possible exemplary
embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
70 . (015] FIG. 2 is a exploded view of a stacking sequence of at least one
exemplary embodiment
of a shielding electrode architecture having bypass electrodes shown without
any optional final
sandwiching outer "-IM" shielding electrodes in accordance with at least one
embodiment of a
number of possible exemplary embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
[016] FIG. 3A is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of an amalgamated
shielding
75 structure having grouped, shielding structures, portions of which can be
designated as 900"X",
and which further may include paired shielding electrode containers, portions
of which can be
designated as 800"X". Center axis 999 is depicted, as can be lines 999B and
999C, each of which
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
4
represents a cross-section, in accordance with at least one embodiment of a
number of possible
exemplary embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
80 [017] FIG. 3B is a 999B cross-section view of a portion of an exemplary
embodiment of a
multiple energy pathway arrangement, in accordance with the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. l;
[018] FIG. 3C is a 999C cross-section view of a portion of an exemplary
embodiment of a
multiple energy pathway arrangement, in accordance with the exemplary
embodiment of FIG. 2;
[019] FIG. 4A is a semi-transparent, top plan view of at least one embodiment
of a number of
85 possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
[020] FIG. 4B is a "999B" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible exemplary embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various
selected areas
of predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 4A;
[021] FIG. 4C is a "999C" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
90 possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various
selected areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 4A;
[022] FIG. 5A is a semi-transparent, top plan view of at least one embodiment
of a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
[023] FIG. 5B is a "999B" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
95 possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various
selected areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 5A;
(024] FIG. SC is a "999C" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 5A;
100 [025] FIG. 6A is a semi-transparent,. top plan view of at least one
embodiment of a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
[026J FIG. 6B is a "999B" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 6A;
105 [027] FIG. 6C is a "999C" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of
a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 6A;
[028J FIG. 7A is a semi-transparent, top plan view of at least one embodiment
of a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
110 [029] FIG. 7B is a "999B" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of
a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 7A;
[030] FIG. 7C is a "999C" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
115 predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 7A;
[031] FIG. 8A is a semi-transparent, top plan view of at least one embodiment
of a number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement;
[032] FIG. 8B is a "999B" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
120 predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 8A;
[033] FIG. 8C is a "999C" cross-section view of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of the energy pathway arrangement with various selected
areas of
predetermined energy portion interactions as illustrated in FIG. 8A;
[034] FIG. 9A shows a top plan with offsets view of a portion of a typical
shielding energy
125 pathway depicting a typical 'spilt' electrode configuration;
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
6
[035] FIG. 9B shows a portion of a side plan view depicting FIG. 9A;
(036] Description of the Invention
(037] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application
Serial No.
130 09/845,680, filed April 30, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of co-
pending application Serial
No. 09/815,246 filed March 22, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of co-
pending application
Serial No. 09/777,021 filed February 5, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part
of co-pending
application, Serial No. 09/632,048 filed August 3, 2000, which is a
continuation-in-part of co-
pending application Serial No. 09/594,447 filed June 15, 2000, which is a
continuation-in-part of
135 co-pending application Serial No. 09/579,606 filed May 26, 2000, which is
a continuation-in-part
of co-pending application Serial No. 09/460,218 filed December 13, 1999, now
issued as U.S.
Patent Number 6,331,926, which is a continuation of application Serial No.
09/056,379 filed
April 7, 1998, now issued as U.S. Patent Number 6,018,448, which is a
continuation-in-part of
application Serial No. 09/008,769 filed January 19, 1998, now issued as U.S.
Patent Number
140 6,097,581, which is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.
08/841,940 filed April 8,
1997, now issued as U.S. Patent Number 5,909,350, each of which is
incorporated by reference
herein.
[038] In addition, this application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No.
60/280,819, filed April 2, 2001, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/302,429,
filed July 2, 2001,
145 U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/310,962, filed August 8, 2000, U.S.
Provisional Application
No. 60/ filed January 7, 2002, each of which is incorporated by reference
herein.
[039] It is to be understood that the figures and descriptions can be
illustrative of at least one
embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement, and have
been simplified in order to illustrate elements that can be relevant for a
clear understanding of at
150 least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments, while
eliminating, for purposes of
clarity, many other elements found in a typical energy conditioning device,
system, and method.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
7
Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other elements. can be
desirable and/or
required in order to implement at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of
a energy pathway arrangement. However, because such elements are well known in
the art, and
155 because they do not facilitate a better understanding of any exemplary
embodiment presented
herein, a discussion of such elements is not provided herein. The disclosure
herein below is
directed to all such variations and modifications to energy conditioning
devices, systems, and/or
methods as are known, and will be apparent, to those skilled in the art.
[040] As the term is used generally herein, an "energy pathway", in accordance
with at least
160 one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement, may
be at least one, or a number, of conductive material portions, each one
operable for sustained
propagation of energy portions. Energy pathways may be conducive, and/or
conductive by way
of physical make-up, to better propagate various electrical and/or energies,
as compared to non-
conductive or semi-conductive materials directly coupled and/or adjacent to
the energy
165 pathways.
[041] An energy pathway within at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments
of an energy pathway arrangement may facilitate propagation of energy portions
by allowing for
various, simultaneous energy conditioning functions on those energy portions
because of the
orientation and positioning of the energy pathways within the energy pathway
arrangement,
170 which in-turn allows for interaction of various energy portions with other
propagating
complementary energy portions.
(042] An energy pathway may include an energy pathway portion, an entire
energy pathway, an
energy pathway, and/or a conductor, and/or an energy conductor, and/or an
electrode, and/or at
least one process-created conductor, and/or an electrode, and or a shielding.
A plurality of energy
175 pathways may include a plurality of each device or element discussed
hereinabove with respect
to energy pathway.
[043] A type of energy pathway may include a shielding. A shielding may
include a shielding
energy pathway, a shielding energy pathway portion, a shielded energy pathway
portion, a
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
8
shielded energy pathway, and/or shielded conductor, and/or shielded energy
conductor, and/or
180 shielded electrode, and/or at least one process-created shielded energy
pathway portion, and/or
shielded conductor, and/or shielded energy conductor, and/or "shielded
electrode". A plurality of
shieldings may include a plurality of the devices or elements discussed
hereinabove with respect
to shielding.
[044] A type of energy pathway may be a conductor and/or an electrode. As used
generally
185 herein, and with respect to propagating energy portions, an individual, or
complementary
positioned and/or orientated conductor, and/or energy conductor, and/or
electrode, may, for
example include a pairing of physically opposing, or oppositely orientated
relative to one
another, conductor, and/or electrodes, that may thereby be electrically
complementary and/or
electrically differential. Further, as used generally herein, conductors)
and/or electrodes) may
190 include, for example, an individual conductive material portion,
electrical wire, such as a
resistive lead, conductive material portions, electrical plates, such as
plates separated by at least
one medium 801, and/or a separation portion, and the like, for example.
[045] In an illustrative embodiment, energy pathway arrangement may include at
least a
195 shielding positioned at least a partially shield energy pathways, in part
or in whole, and/or as a
conductive shielding structure with respect to at least an isolated and/or
conductively isolated
pairing of at least two energy pathways, such as an electrode, such as
complementary paired
electrodes.
[046] Additionally, as used generally herein, the term "AOC" 813 may include
at least a
200 portion of a predetermined and/or selected three-dimensional area within
at least one
embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement
practicable for sustaining complementary energy portion confluences and/or
interactions that
may undergo energy conditioning. Thus, an AOC 813 may be a result of a
predetermined
manufactured sequence of various selected and/or predetermined and/or arranged
pairing of
205 energy pathways and a shielding, of which these pathways may allow
predetermined energy
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
9
conditioning functions, resulting from energy propagation, to occur or take
place upon portions
of complementary propagating energies pathed within an AOC 813.
[047] As used herein, the term "ALI " may include a portion of a predetermined
and/or selected
three-dimensional area of at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
210 energy pathway arrangement, that may be practicable for less sustenance of
complementary
energy portion confluences than a comparable AOC 813, at least in part due to
the fact that the
ALI may be or include, for example, a space, an empty or non-electrical
physical area, an
insulating area, or another area type, such as an area created by an
arrangement of the energy
pathways, that results in such lacking at least a portion of an energy pathway
arrangement that
215 would otherwise allow for a more balanced interaction of energy
confluences. For example, ALI
may be formed of, or may include, portions designated 806, 6400, 666 6300, and
6500,
respectively, as these 6400, 806, 666, 6300, and 6500 areas may have lesser
energy conditioning
and/or balanced interaction, and/or confluence capability than a comparable
AOC 813.
[048] In addition, as used generally herein, the terms "outer" or "external"
may include
220 locations up to, and/or beyond, the typical effective energy-conditioning
range or influence,
spacing or area, of an AOC 813, as defined hereinabove. Outer or external, as
used generally
herein, need not be separate of an AOC 813, and need not be contiguously apart
from other
elements included in an energy pathway arrangement and/or an AOC 813. Thus,
for example,
outer or external, as used herein, may apply to all, or a majority, of the
locations of electrode
225 extensions 79'X' with respect to AOC 813, irrespective of a contiguous
relation to the main body
portion 80 of that electrode.
[049] In an illustrative energy pathway arrangement embodiment, among others,
for example,
such as illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 7A, wherein the various
propagating energy
portions can be complementary, the energy pathway arrangement, upon placement
into a circuit
230 arrangement(s), may allow for energy propagation within and/or along
certain portions of energy
pathways of the energy pathway arrangement, thereby allowing for the mutual
interaction of
oppositely moving portions of electrode-sourced magnetic fields produced by
the propagation of
energy field currents emanating outwardly from each of the complementary
conductors. This
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
mutual cancellation may occur wherein certain electrodes can be partially or
totally physically
235 shielded from other complementary electrodes, and can be placed within an
influencing
distance(s). Further, a substantial similarity in size and/or shape of the
respective complementary
electrodes, the spaced-apart relationship of the electrodes, the
interpositioning of a shielding, as
well as the conductively isolated relationship of the electrodes may
contribute to this mutual
cancellation effect.
240 [050] Further, in accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of
possible
embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, the complementary electrodes may
be
substantially the same in size, shape, and/or position, and may be subjected
to a plurality of
shielding dynamics partially within a simultaneously operating shielding
structure, in which
electrostatic shielding may effect portions of energy propagating through or
about the shielding
245 structure. It will be understood herein by those of ordinary skill that
the use of the tenors
substantially similarly or equally sized or shaped, complementary sized or
shaped, or same or
equal sized or shaped, or the like, incorporates the common understanding in
the art of
manufacturing tolerances and/or commonly practiced manufacturing in the state
of the art, such
as manufacturing practices that may be employed by original equipment
manufacturers (OEM)
250 in the construction of an energy pathway arrangement as described herein.
[051) Although the electrostatic shielding may be mutually exclusive to each
portion of the
respective complementary conductor during the shielding, dynamic shielding
additionally results
from a specific, predetermined, relative positioning, internal to the energy
pathway, which
positioning results in an electrostatic shielding that is dependant upon a
plurality of variables
255 including, but not limited to, predetermined physical placement and
location of each of the
respective complementary electrode portions through which energy propagates
during energizing
of the respective electrode portions. For example, the predetermined
amalgamation of selected
electrodes and/or shielding may be formed, at least in part, using a
sequential manufacturing
operation, such as that used to form a multi-functional energy-conditioner.
260 [052J Thus, the shielding dynamic operations discussed hereinabove may be
predicated, at least
in-part, on a predetermined positioning of a first of the respective
complementary electrodes
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
11
relative to a second of the respective complementary electrodes, wherein the
first of the
complementary electrodes and the second can be complements to one another, and
thereby form
"paired mates". Additionally, the shielding operations may be predicated on a
relative
265 positioning of the paired mate electrodes with respect to at least a
portion of the conductive
electrostatic shielding structure. At least the complementary energy
conditioning functions and
electrostatic shielding dynamics discussed herein may operate on various
energy portions
propagating in various directions along various predetermined energy pathways
within an AOC
813, and may operate simultaneously with circuit operation of an energy
pathway arrangement
270 within, for example, a predetermined master circuit necessitating a
desired master circuit
behavior.
[053] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, a sub-combination of
electromagnetically/electrostatically actuated
impedance states may develop along or within a portion of an energy pathway
arrangement,
275 and/or along or within a closely coupled, predetermined external
conductive portion that is
coupled conductively to the shielding energy pathways, to thereby form a
predetermined energy
conditioning circuit. These electromagnetically/electrostatically actuated
impedance states may
develop, for example, because of the energization of the paired, energy
pathways.
[054] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
280 energy pathway arrangement as discussed herein, each shielding may include
a main body
portion 81. Main body portions 81 may collectively and conductively couple to
one another, and
at the same time may substantially immure and shield the main body portions 80
of the
electrode(s). Alternatively, the collective shielding main body portions 81
may only partially
immure and/or shield the electrode main-body portion 80s.
285 [055] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, due to a symmetry, certain superposed shielding
energy pathways,
complementary energy pathways sizing and shaping, and reciprocal positioning
and pairing of
the complementary energy pathways relative to the other, a balanced,
symmetrical, energy
pathway arrangement may be resultant. Manufacturable balanced and/or
symmetrical physical
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
12
290 arrangements of energy pathways, wherein dynamic energy propagations
and/or interactions or
pairings or match-ups of various dynamic quantities, such as complementary
energy
propagations or quantities, cannot be simultaneously measured and/or may
operate at less than a
fundamental limit of accuracy of typical testing equipment, may result. Thus,
when portions of
these complementary energy quantities interact simultaneously within a range
of space, such as
295 AOC 813, such as a space parallel to the measurement circuit, the energy
portions, an/or the
interaction thereof, may be beyond the quantifiable range of the typical
testing equipment, and
thus may be beneath a 'testing floor'.
[056] A measurement capability, or a desired result, such as an electrical
enhancement or
characteristic variation, may be obtained due to a predetermined arrangement
of elements that
300 maintains a complementary balance, symmetry relative to a fixed or
imaginary point or center
reference axis and/or point 999
[057) Thus, the extent to which the measurement can be obtained may be
controllable, and
thereby, the electrical characteristics, or the effect on electrical
characteristics, may be
controllable, by predetermining the desired measurability, or behavior, or
enhancement to be
305 provided, by the arrangement of the elements, and by an arrangement of the
elements to provide
the desired measurability or effect. For example, a desired electrical
characteristic and/or
variance may be predetermined for subjecting to a desired enhancement by
varying at least a
portion of the complementary balance, size, shape, and/or symmetry of at least
one energy
pathway pairing, as set forth herein below with respect to at least one
embodiment of a number
310 of possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, and as
illustrated in FIGs. 4-9.
[058] Thus, variables such as the extent of energy interactions, mutual energy
propagation
timings, or interferences, for example, may be controllable by exerting
control over tolerances
within the energy pathway arrangement. These tolerances may be controllable,
for example, by
manually controlling a manufacture process, or by computer tolerance control,
such as
315 semiconductor process control. Thus, the energy pathways of an exemplary
embodiment may be
formed using manufacturing processes, such as passive device processes,
apparent to those
skilled in the art, the tolerances of which processes will be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
13
Mutual energy portion propagation timings or measurements may thereby be
cancelled or
suppressed by the formation of the energy pathway arrangement of an exemplary
embodiment, in
320 accordance with the ordinary understanding of those terms in the art.
[059] Accordingly, at least one predetermined manufacturing process can be
utilized to create
an energy pathway arrangement resulting in a sequentially positioned
arrangement of relatively
positioned groupings of electrodes in an amalgamated electronic structure
having balanced
groupings of predetermined energy pathways. The balanced grouping of
predetermined energy
325 pathways may include a predetermined electrode architecture having a
stacked hierarchy of
electrodes, symmetrical and complementary in number, and positioned
complementary to one
another and/or substantially equidistant on each side of a centrally
positioned shielding, wherein
each shielding energy pathway may provide at least a portion of a symmetrical
balancing point
for the overall electrode hierarchy. Thus, predetermined differential and/or
complementary sized,
330 shaped, and/or positioned electrodes are present on either side of the
centrally positioned
shielding. Thereby, the energy pathway is symmetrically divided into a
predetermined
complementary physical format that may include a reverse-mirror image
positioning of paired
differential and/or complementary sized and/or shaped electrodes, sandwiching
at least one
interposing shielding. This illustrative embodiment may be termed a
symmetrical
335 complementary energy pathway arrangement, and may include, for example, a
reflected, or a
rotated, translation of the embodiment discussed immediately hereinabove.
[060J The energy pathway arrangement may additionally include conductive
structures,
electrode portions, electrode termination elements, or conductive portions,
such as those that can
be practicable for attachment of the elements of the energy pathway
arrangement to an external
340 device, circuit, or circuit portion. Further, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that the
energy pathway arrangement may be made operable, such as for a predetermined
effect, such as
an incoming external energy conditioning, by combination with, and/or and
conductive coupling
to, at least one predetermined external device, circuit, or circuit portion.
For example,
predetermined conductive coupling of at least a portion of an energy pathway
arrangement to at
345 least one external device, circuit, or circuit portion may allow for a
specifically attainable energy
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
14
conditioning function to be applied to at least one energy portion propagating
to, from, and/or
through the external device, circuit, or circuit portion and the at least a
portion of the at least one
energy pathway. Such at least one energy portion may include complementary
energies,
electrically opposite, and/or electrically polar opposite energy portions.
Additionally, the energy
350 pathway arrangement may be operable as a discrete component.
[061] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, each electrode may be, for example, a substrate, a
deposit, an
etching, a resultant of, for example a doping process, and the shielding may
be, for example, an
electrode substrate, a deposit, an etching, a resultant of, for example, a
doping process, and may
355 have, for example, resistive properties.
(062] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, shielding may be operable for at least two energy
conditioning
functions simultaneously, such as, for example, providing a circuit with a low
impedance energy
pathway, and/or common voltage reference, and/or an image plane function,
and/or an energy
360 blocking function, wherein, for example, a shielding energy pathway, such
as 400 of FIG. 3A, ,
serves as at least a shielding and isolating at least partially physically
interposed barner operable
for shielding electrostatically. These functions may be provided, for example,
wherein a
shielding energy pathway sandwiches at least a portion of each of the same-
sized,
complementary electrodes of a complementary electrode pairing. The use of same-
sized
365 complementary electrodes may allow for, for example, economical
construction of many
possible variants of at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an energy
pathway arrangement. For example, close positioning of internal, parallel
complementary energy
pathways of at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an
energy
pathway arrangement may allow for development of a low impedance energy
pathway or
370 blocking function that may develop upon or along a shielding energy
pathway that is not integral
to direct energized circuit operation, nor is directly coupled to internal,
parallel complementary
energy pathways.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
[063] A portion of at least a third energy pathway found within at least one
embodiment of a
number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement may be near,
or indirectly
375 adjacent to and partially surrounding most, if not all, of at least
portions of a first and a second
energy pathway. Thereby, in accordance with at least one embodiment of a
number of possible
embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, at least two, but three or more,
isolated energy
pathways may be provided. For example, wherein a first and a second energy
pathway can be at
least each respective of at least a pairing of differential and/or
complementary energy pathways
380 and/or power/return pathways, simultanteously at least a third energy
pathway may be physically
and conductively separated from the first and a second energy pathway by at
least portions of a
medium 801 and/or material portions 801.
[064] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement at least a third energy pathway may be utilized for
conductive
385 coupling to predetermined portions of circuitries and/or bus lines, and/or
an isolated ground
and/or isolated conductive area and/or external conductive area (all not
shown), for example,
rather than utilizing, for example, at least first and second predetermined
portions of circuitries
and/or bus lines, operable electrically isolated from direct physical coupling
to one another, thus
providing for a means of broad-band frequency bypassing and/or decoupling.
390 [065] This energy pathway arrangement can thus minimize, suppress,
decouple, filter, or
otherwise modify wanted or unwanted electrical or electromagnetic emissions,
for example, such
as those resulting from differential and common mode currents, by placement in
combination
with externally coupled and positioned circuit portions or devices. Further,
the energy pathway
arrangement can provide balancing in that the shielding energy pathway may
include a
395 conductive shielding structure formed from an odd integer number of
superposed, shielding
electrodes, wherein the total shielding structure exerts a balancing effect on
the paired,
complementary electrodes adjacent to the shielding energy pathway.
[066] Thus, while at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments
of an energy
pathway arrangement allows for smoothing and energy conditioning operations,
various desired
400 degrees of smoothing and/or energy conditioning operations can be a
function of predetermined
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
16
contrasts of energy conditioning desired, due to various and respective
predetermined
arrangements of main body complementary electrode portions 80s verses each
other collectively,
as well as a pairing and/or verses main body shielding electrode portions 81s.
These desired
functions) may be due, in part, to other relationships, such as various and
respective relative size
405 differences, symmetry and/or balancing arrangements, overall relative to
and respective of a
fulcrum, energy pathway such as 800/800-IM, and/or complementarity of position
and/or
placement, as well as a shield and/or shielding electrode superposition or a
desired energy
leakage allowed, and/or non-attachment and/or non-coupling of certain elements
within at least
one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement and/or
410 external to at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of
a new energy
pathway arrangement family..
[067J In addition, at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments
of an energy
pathway arrangement may be placed into a circuit, device, or circuit portion,
and may be
energized to provide electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering, such as
simultaneous
415 differential mode and common mode filtering, across a desired and/or
predetermined frequency
range. The predetermined frequency range may be broad, or narrow, as selected,
and is
dependent on the electrode, and/or medium 801, and/or shielding selection, and
or the element
placement selection, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. A
simultaneous, differential
mode and common mode filtering function can be utilized with at least one
embodiment ~of a
420 number of possible embodiments of a new energy pathway arrangement family
to provide, in
many cases, a surge protection function that can be used as well for circuitry
attached between a
source and an energy utilizing-load.
[068J The predetermined positional shifting of paired, multi-layered offset
electrodes of an
exemplary embodiment may be, for example, configured in a substantially
bypassed, or a feed-
425 thru configuration, and may be formed as portions of single chips, or
mufti-terminal or multi-
point electrode chip array assemblies, for example, and, as set forth herein,
can be physically
shielded, in whole or in-part, from each other, nearby and/or adjacent offset
electrode. More
specifically, the energy pathway of an exemplary embodiment may include a
passive,
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
17
superimposed, shielding and electrode architecture in at least one
predetermined arrangement for
430 relatively broad-frequency energy transmissions without degradation, or
failure, such as, for
example, at energization.
[069] In a more specific embodiment of at least one embodiment of a number of
possible
embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, material 801, having
predetermined desirable
conditioning properties, may be interposed and non-conductively coupled to a
substantial
435 number of points surrounding the various elements, such as conductors
and/or electrodes, of the
energy pathways, in order to provide spacing between energy pathways and/or
electrodes, and/or
to facilitate conductive coupling between conductive portions within an energy
pathway, and/or
to insulate the electrodes of the arrangement, and/or to provide structural
support, and/or to
provide the proper spaced-apart distances between the shielding and the
electrodes of the
440 arrangement.
[070] These materials 801 may be oriented in a generally enveloping and
adjoining relationship
with respect to the electrodes, for example. Materials 801 may not have
uniform properties
throughout each material 801, or as between materials 801, and non-
uniformities may vary the
electrical properties of all, or a portion, of the energy pathway arrangement.
Materials 801, or
445 portions thereof, may be selected from insulators, including air, semi-
insulators, dielectrics,
including high K constant and low K constant dielectrics, capacitive
materials, inductive
materials, ferro-magnetic material, ferrites, shales, metal oxides, varistors,
laminates, chemically
doped materials, multi-layered materials, semiconductor materials, such as
silicon, germanium,
gallium-arsenate and gallium arsenide, or compounds or combinations of these
and other
450 materials. In a typical embodiment, material 801 will include insulating
properties, such as, for
example, an X7R, MOV, or COG material 801. Additionally, for example, a
polyimide polymer
in the form factor of a flexible film, resulting from a polycondensation
reaction between
pyromellitic dianhydride and four diaminodiphenyl ether, or any derivative of
such, which
polymer may additionally be combined with other compounds or materials, may be
implemented
455 as material 801, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
18
[071] It should be noted that portions of material 801 having predetermined
properties may not
be provided separately from conductive materials. In this case , material 801
may not
necessarily, at first, be practicable or operable for receiving electrode
material deposits, but may
later be made operable for receipt of such, such as wherein electrode 799, or
energy pathway
460 material 799 is partially derived from, or partially or wholly created by,
a process that includes at
least a portion of material 801 that has been chemically altered, manipulated,
doped, or
processed with catalysts, from an original state of semi-conductivity or non-
conductivity, to a
state of conductivity.
[072] Further, in this more specific embodiment of at least one embodiment of
a number of
465 possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, an energy pathway,
such as a
conductor and/or a flexible conductive material, may be selected from Ag,
Ag/Pd, Cu, Ni, Pt,
Au, Pd andlor other metals, and/or conductively made materials, and/or
combinations thereof,
and these conductors may be combined with resistive materials, such as a metal
oxide, such as
ruthenium oxide, which resistive materials may be diluted with a suitable
dilution, to form
470 energy pathways. Further, energy pathways may include, and/or be formed
by, substances and
processes used to create conductive materials, such as Mylar films or printed
circuit board
materials, doping of polysilicon, sintered polycrystalline, metals,
polysilicon silicates, or
polysilicon silicides, for example. Additionally, various hybrid polymer
films, plasma-treated
surfaces, vacuum-deposits, metalized thin films, foil capacitors, PP and PPT
for passive devices,
475 radiation-curable acrylate polymers having plasma-treated surface(s), such
as taught in U.S.
Patent No. 6,214,422, which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used
to form energy
pathways. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art the energy pathways
may not have
uniform properties throughout, and may not have consistent properties as
between energy
pathways.
480 [073] For example, a thin film passive device may be formed in accordance
with at least one
embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement, using
multilayer passive components, such as those having energy densities of at
least 0.5 J/cm<sup>3</sup>,
whereimthere can be at least three pluralities of interleaved, vacuum-
deposited metal electrode
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
19
layers, wherein each electrode layer is separated by deposited, or vacuum-
deposited, cured or
485 radiation-cured, polymer dielectric portions, formed by first depositing a
monomer layer, and by
radiation-curing the monomer layer, to define the electrode active region.
These interleaved
metal electrode layer pluralities may be terminated at each respective outer
perimeter edge
portion by single layer or multilayer, sputtered or soldered, material portion
or conductive
material coated termination portion. Formation of this device may include a
continuous, one-step
490 process in a vacuum, for example, wherein each electrode may be formed by
metal evaporation.
Forming the metal layer on the polymer layer may be repeated to form the
various pluralities of
interleaved, vacuum-deposited metal electrodes separated by the vacuum-
deposited, radiation-
cured polymer dielectric portions. The multilayer passive component may then
be cut into a
plurality of multilayer passive components, such as by cutting along a first
direction to form a
495 single passive energy conditioning strip that can then be cut into
individual passive energy
conditioning components, and along a second direction that can be orthogonal
to the first
direction. By cutting the individual passive energy conditioning components,
electrode layers
can be set into, or recessed into, the polymer layers along electrode edges
orthogonal to an
opposite electrode end not necessarily set into or recessed into the polymer
layers, for example,
500 thereby forming a non-conducting portion or region that may prevent arcing
and/or leakage
current between the electrode layers along the orthogonal edges or perimeter
portions.
[074] In this more specific embodiment, at least a first, a second, and a
third shielding having
substantially common shape and size, and each being conductively coupled to
one another,
sandwich at least a first and a second electrode of substantially common size
and shape, wherein
505 the first electrode may be at least partially sandwiched between the first
and the second
shielding, and wherein the second electrode may be at least partially
sandwiched between the
second and the third shielding. The first and the second electrode may be at
least partially, or
may be fully, isolated and shielded from one another, and may be disposed in a
symmetrical
and/or complementary arrangement relative to the other, wherein the first and
the second
510 electrode may each have at least one corresponding, face to face electrode
area substantially
equal in size to another at least one corresponding area, and wherein, in
addition, the first and the
second electrode may each have at least one corresponding, non-face to face
electrode area that
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
may be substantially equal to another corresponding non-face to face area. Any
of the face-to
face areas, non face-to-face areas, the electrodes, and/or the shielding may
be flexible, semi
515 flexible, or rigid.
[075] This energy pathway arrangement may then be coupled to a larger circuit
arrangement,
such as for testing or conditioning. A circuit arrangement circuit may, for
example, evidence
voltage dividing and balancing of opposing pressures internally to the
grouped, adjacent
electrodes, and/or may allow for a minimized hysteresis or piezoelectric
effect within the circuit
520 arrangement. These effects can be frequently encountered in the prior art
wherein a switching
response or particular time constraint is needed to provide instantaneous
energy propagation, and
these effects can be remedied by the use of an exemplary embodiment. Thereby,
with at least one
embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement ,
embodiments may appear, in, for example, a bypass or feed through
configuration, as an open
525 energy propagation simultaneously on both electrical sides of a common
energy reference, such
as the third energy pathway discussed hereinabove, such as along energy-in and
energy-out
pathways connected or coupled from an energy source to a respective load,
and/or from the load
back to the source. The alternating electrode and material of the energy
pathways in accordance
with at least one embodiment of a number of embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement,
530 may operate as an energy conditioner effective at up to 1000 Volts (V),
with a capacitance in the
nanoFarad (nF) to 1-farad (F) range, dependant, at least in part, upon the
overall size and the
number of electrode pairs disposed between the shieldings.
[076] In this more specific embodiment, other elements of the arrangement may
be oriented in
a generally parallel relationship with respect to one another, and/or certain
elements may be
535 oriented in a perpendicular relationship. Thus, the energy pathways may be
horizontally
positioned, or vertically positioned. All elements described herein may
include, for example,
non-insulated and conductive apertures, or conductive thru-vias, and yet still
maintain a separate
electrical relationship with an adjoining element or circuit.
[077] Differential capacitive balance, or tolerance balancing, characteristics
of an exemplary
540 embodiment may arise, and be controllable by variations in, element
positioning, size, and
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
21
separations, as well as attachment positioning, and may allow for an energy
pathway
arrangement, manufactured, for example, at 3% capacitive tolerance internally.
Balancing is
discussed further hereinbelow with respect to FIGS. 4-10. This internal
balance may pass to an
attached or coupled and energized circuit the correlated 3% capacitive
tolerance.
545 [078] With respect to FIGs. 1, 2, and 3, at least one embodiment of a
number of possible
embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement having complementary energy
pathways and/or
shielding energy pathways, which may each include elongated extenders or
extensions, such as
electrode lead portions 812"XX" and 79G, respectively. Main-body portion 80
and 81, of
. complementary energy pathways and/or shielding energy pathways,
respectively, may include,
550 or be electrically connected to, these electrode lead portions 812"XX" and
79G, respectively..
For the energy pathways having a main body 80, and the extenders) 812"XX" for
812A1, for
example, may have the main-body portion 80 being at least partially,
registered between a nearby
or adjacent sandwiching, shielding energy pathways and/or the respective main
body portion 81s.
[079] A portion of a cage-like conductive shield structure for use in
accordance with at least
555 one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement is
illustrated in FIGs. 1-3. FIG. 3A shows a portion of a cage-like electrode
shield structure 400
that is similar to that of FIGS. 1-3, and a like-cross-sectioned 999 for
similar like embodiments is
depicted FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C. In FIG. 1, a centrally positioned and commonly
shared shielding
energy pathway 800/800-IM is shown deposed upon a portion 800-P, or portion of
material 801,
560 having predetermined properties. Energy pathway 800/800-IM, bypass
electrodes 855BT and
855BB, respectively, deposed upon material portions 801 or plates of material
801 can be
855BT-P and 855BB-P, respectively. Plates 855BT-P and 855BB-P may be at least
a portion of
material 801 having predetermined properties, disposed in a generally parallel
sequential stack
positioned to sandwich the shared centrally positioned shielding energy
pathway 800/800-IM-P.
565 [080] Shielding energy pathway 800/800-IM, and bypass energy pathways
855BT and 855BB,
may be disposed in a symmetrical, reversed mirrored relationship, and
predicated upon a stacked
sequential manufacturing operation, as set forth generally hereinabove. This
positioning may
result in a stacking of shielding energy pathways above and below bypass
energy pathways
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
22
855BT and 855BB, and a centrally positioned pathway 800/800-IM, illustrated in
FIGs. l, 2, and
570 3C for example.
[081] Positioned above and below by-pass pathways 855BT and 855BB, for
example, may be
a medium material 801. Centrally positioned and shared shielding energy
pathway 800/800-IM,
and shielding energy pathways 815, 810, and the optional shielding energy
pathways 855/855-
IM and 850/850-IM, and the differential bypass energy pathways 855BT and
855BB, may each
575 include main body portions 81 and 80 generally separated by a parallel
interposition or
deposition of a material 801.
[082] Each shielding energy pathway may be substantially aligned such that a
superposed
registration relationship results in common and shared perimeter edge
alignments of substantially
all of the shielding energy pathway edges 805. The 805 edges may be located
around the co-
580 planar perimeter of each shielding energy pathway, and may include a main
portion 81 integral
to each respective shielding energy pathway, and an contiguous extension, such
as extension
79G as discussed hereinabove.
[083] Contiguous electrode extensions 79G may be aligned portions of
conductive material 799
formed contiguously with each shielding energy pathway 855/855-IM, 845, 835,
825, 815,
585 800!800-IM, 810, 820, 830, 840 and 850/850-IM, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-
3, and made or
manufactured in form extend away from the main body portion 81 of each,
respectively, towards
a perimeter and/or boundary edge 817. Each contiguous extension 79G may
eventually be
coupled to conductive portion 802B or 802A, respectively. In addition an
interconnected
shielding conductive structure, including shielding energy pathways that at
least share one
590 common conductive coupling with one another either, may be included in a
wrap-around style
as a conductive material portion 802 that extends at least 270 degrees to 360
degrees around the
body of at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an
energy pathway
arrangement, to thereby provide multiple conductive coupling locals to
portions of edging 805 of
each shielding energy pathway 855/855-IM, 845, 835, 825, 815, 800/800-IM, 810,
820, 830, 840
595 and 850/850-IM, and/or to thereby provide additional shielding isolation
on all at least three of at
least four sides in accordance with at least one embodiment. This at least one
embodiment of a
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
23
number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement may be could
used with
discrete chip versions of the embodiments, thus eliminating the need for both
802A and 802B
portions, and with an externally located energy pathway that is not
conductively coupled to the
600 complementary energy pathways of at least one complementary energy pathway
pairing. Note
that U.S. Patent Number 5,909,350, filed April 8, 1997, incoporated herein by
reference,
includes an example of a conductive material portion 802, and may be used to
illustrate this
concept. Note that a predetermined, centrally positioned shielding energy
pathway may serve as
a balancing point or fulcrum/divider of an arrangement of balanced, 3-
dimensional symmetrical
605 layers, as to the number of layerings, positional arrangements of balanced
elements, as well as to
distance relationships imparted to these various elements, thereby maintaining
and allowing for a
resulting arrangement of balanced, 3-dimensional symmetry to exist for at
least a portion of the
shielding, thereby allowing for a sharing of at least one common conductive
coupling to an
externally located energy pathway by utilization of a single, 'wrap around'
application of a
610 conductive material 802 for use with discrete embodiments, thereby
eliminating two, 'non-wrap
around portions' of the same conductive material 802, now designated as
portions 802A and
802B, wherein conductive material portions such as 802A and 802B maybe
conductively
coupled to an externally located common energy pathway.
[084] It should be noted that substantially all of the main body 81 portions
of the shielding
615 energy pathways may be offset by at least an average pre-determined
distance 814 relative to a
predetermined outer edge 817. In addition, the energy pathways 855BT and 855BB
may be
offset an additional distance 806 from the outer edge 805 of the aligned edges
of the shielding
energy pathways, such that a portion of an outer edge 803 of either energy
pathway 855BT and
855BB can be overlapped by a portion of an edge 805 alignment of superposed
shielding energy
620 pathways. Accordingly, energy pathway 855BT and 855BB may include a
conductive area
operable for energy portion propagation less than the area operable for energy
portion
propagation, or the conductive area operable for energy portion propagations,
of any given
shielding area operable for energy portion propagations. Thus, any one of the
sandwiching
shielding energy pathways may posses a total top and bottom conductive area
sum greater than
625 the total operable area top and bottom summed of any one complementary
electrodes.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
24
[085] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, which is operable as a portion of a circuit when
conductive
material portions 802A and 802B can be conductively coupled with a portion of
predetermined
shielding 805, wherein the differential pathway is at least partially
sandwiched by at least two
630 shieldings, and wherein each of the differential electrodes may be smaller
in overall size relative
to each of the superposed shieldings, the differential electrodes may be
offset within the
superimposed shielding, thereby creating an area 806 of gap. Thereby, at least
one portion each
of at least two superposed shielding energy pathways may not have directly
blocked, by
electrodes, a line of sight between these at least two shielding energy
pathways. In the typical
635 embodiment of FIG. 3A, single cage-like structure 800E mirrors single cage-
like structure 800D,
except that differential electrode 855BB may be oppositely positioned to
differential electrode
855BT.
[086] Energy pathway lead portions 79'X', 812'X' and or 798'X' are preferably
conductive.
These electrode lead portions 79'X' can be positioned in relative,
complementary paired
640 relationships on differing side portions sides of the energy conditioner
body, and can be isolated
by a larger shielding electrode 8"XX".
[087] Differential electrodes grouping of 885BT, 865BT, 855BB, 875BB and
differential
electrodes grouping of 875BT, 855BT, 865BB, 885BB can be within a
predetermined sequence,
and 3 dimensional positioning scheme, within the common conductive, cage-like
shielding
645 structure, as shown in FIG. 3A.
[088] For example, structures 800C, 800D, 800E, 800F, and 8006 for example as
shown in
FIG. 3A, when taken individually, include six shieldings 825, 815, 800/800-IM,
810, 820, 830,
and, when operable as shielding structures 900A, 900B, 900C, the six
shieldings 825, 81 S,
800/800-IM, 810, 820, 830 can be in a predetermined interweaved, overlapping
manner such that
650 the operable shielding structure 900A utilizes shielding 800/800-1M, 810,
820, while operable
shielding structure 900B utilizes shielding 81 S, 800/800-IM, 810, and while
operable shielding
structure 900B utilizes shielding 810, 820, 830. It is of interest to note
that shielding 810 can be
utilized by all three operable shielding structures 900"X". Together, 800E and
800F create a
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
single and larger common conductive cage-like electrode shield structure 900A
that acts as a
655 paired shielded conductive container, and 800E and 800F also make up
portions of 900C and
900B, respectively.
(089] Each container 800"X" may include an equal number of same sized,
differential
electrodes that are not necessarily physically opposing, within larger
structure 900"X". Each
container 800"X" may be oriented in a generally homogenous physical and
electrically parallel
660 and common manner. Larger, cage-like conductive shielding structure 900A,
with co-acting
800E and 800F individual shield-like conductive structures, when energized,
and attached to the
same external common conductive path area (not shown) by conductive material
portions 802A
and 802B, such as by reflux solder conductive epoxies, adhesives, and the
like, as will be
apparent to those skilled in the art.
665 [090] In FIG. 1, the central shielding energy pathway 800/800-IM, with
respect to the
interposition between the differential electrodes 855BT and 855BB, within the
outer two
additional sandwiching shielding energy pathways 815 and 810, forms an un-
energized, cage-
like electrode shield structure 900B. The central shielding energy pathway
800/800-IM may
thereby be used simultaneously, by both differential electrodes 855BT and
855BB, but produce
670 opposite results with respective to charge switching. The offset distance
and area 806 enables the
shielding energy pathway 800/800-IM to extend beyond the alignment of energy
pathways
855BT and 855BB, in order to provide a shield against portions of energy flux
fields which
might have extended beyond the edge 803 of the energy pathways 855BT and
855BB, were it
not for the electrostatic shielding effect of the energized faraday-like cage
systems resulting in
675 reduction of near field coupling between other energy pathways 855BT and
855BB, and/or
between external differential energy pathways coupled thereto.
[091] The horizontal 806 area may be, for example, approximately between 0 to
25+, or more,
times the vertical distance between the energy pathways 855BT or 855BB and the
shielding
energy pathway 800/800-IM. This offset distance 806 can be optimized for a
particular
680 application, but all distances of overlap 806 among each respective
pathway are ideally
approximately the same, on average. Minor size differences can be unimportant
in area 806
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
26
between pathways, as long as electrostatic shielding of FIG. 2, for example,
is not entirely
compromised.
[092] In order to couple electrode 855BT or 855BB to external energy pathways
positioned
685 external to 855BT or 855BB, such as on either side of 800B, respectively,
the energy pathway
855BT and 855BB may have one, or a plurality of, portions 812, which extend
beyond the edge
805 of the superposed shielding 800/800-IM, 810 and 81 S, by extensions 812A
and 812B. These
extensions can be, in-turn, conductively coupled to material 890A and 890B,
which enables the
by-pass energy pathways 855BT and 855BB to be electrically coupled to
externally located,
690 differential energy pathways on either side electrically of shielding
pathway 800/800-IM. The
multi-layer components may include at least one material 890A and/or 890B, and
a plurality of
electrical terminal portions 802A, 802B, wherein each material 890A or 890B
may be
conductively coupled to at least the first electrode, or the second electrode,
respectively as shown
in FIG. 2. For example, mufti-layer components may be arranged to define a
decoupling
695 capacitor for a multiprocessing unit, a connector assembly, a bypass and
decoupling capacitor, a
bypass capacitor array, or a feed-thru capacitor array, due to the fact that
at least three elements
can be providing simultaneous cancellation and/or suppression and/or other
energy conditioning
functions, such as simultaneous, common mode and differential mode filtering.
[093] Furthermore, a cage-like effect, or electrostatic shielding effect,
wherein electrically
700 charged containment of internally generated energy parasitics, occurs to
shield from the
respectively paired, complementary energy pathway main-body portion 80s.
Partial electrostatic
shielding provides a protection to prevent escaping of a portion of internally
generated energy
parasitics to a nearby mated, complementary conductive energy pathway.
Electrostatic shielding
function also aids in a minimization of energy parasitics attributed to the
energized
705 complementary energy pathways by at least substantially immuring, or
substantially physical
shielding, of a balanced and/or proportional symmetrically matched insetting
of predetermined
complementary energy pathways within a predetermined area
[094] It should also be noted, with respect to FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, that the
interposition of
conductive and non-conductive material portions that include material 801
'shielding' functions
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
27
710 can be utilized despite a very small distance of separation of oppositely
phased electrically
complementary operations contained within common energy pathways. Operations
may
additionally occur when coupling to a common conductive portion has been made
such that
energy portions utilizing various electrically opposing equally sized energy
pathways opposites
can be operable to interact in a manner balanced between the opposite sides of
a common
715 conductive shield structure.
[095] Exceptional mutual energy flux cancellation of various portions of
energy propagating
along paired and electrically opposing conductive energy pathways that can be
spaced-apart from
one another by a very small distances) of either or both direct and indirect
separation of
oppositely phased electrically complementary operations, with a simultaneous
stray parasitic
720 suppression and containment functions, operate in tandem enhance
functionality of an exemplary
embodiment. H-field field flux propagates by Ampere's law along a transmission
pathway, trace,
line or conductor or conductive layer portion. In an embodiment wherein an
energy-in pathway
and an energy-return pathway can be brought very close to each other, almost
directly adjacent
and parallel with minimal separation by only at least two portions of material
801 and a shielding
725 energy pathway, and corresponding complementary energy field portions may
be combined for
mutual cancellation or minimization of the separate individual effect. The
closer the
complementary symmetrical pathways can be brought together, the better the
mutual cancellation
effect may be.
[096] Certain shielding energy pathways, such as can be shown as #-IM'X', can
be
730 additionally placed shielding energy pathways located outside of, and
sandwiching in close
proximity the balance of, the energy pathways of at least one embodiment of a
number of
possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement .
[097] As disclosed in FIG. 3B, FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, additionally placed, outer
shielding
energy pathways can be designated as -IMO-'X'. Additionally placed, inner
shielding energy
735 pathways can be designated as -IMI-'X', with the exception of 8"XX"/8"XX"-
IM-C, and may
be optional. Additionally placed, outer and inner shielding energy pathways
may also be
conductively coupled to the other shielding energy pathways and one another,
to center shielding
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
28
energy pathway designated 8"XX"/8"XX"-IM, and to almost any other members of
the plurality
of shielding energy pathways in a final static form of at least one
embodiment. It is contemplated
740 that additional numbers of centrally positioned common energy pathway
electrodes
8"XX"/8"XX"-IMs, totaling to an odd number integer that can be added to the
existing central
positioned shielding, energy pathway or shielding energy pathway 8"XX"/8"XX"-
IM, may
provide specific and distinct features that can enhance the mufti-circuit
energy-conditioning.
[098] In FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C, a spacing separation distance that could be
filled using portions
745 of 801 material, for example, can be designated 806, 814, 814A, 814B, ,
814C, 814D, 814E,
814F and can be normally final to a device-relevant configuration.
[099] Separation or spacing distances 806, 814, 814A, 814B, 814C, 814D, 814E,
814F, 814E,
for example, may be generally a portion of three dimensional separation
distance or proximity of
spacing found between nearly adjacent or nearby stacked energy pathway
materialss formed to,
750 be energy pathways and/or electrode portions, such as 814E, and designate
a relationship
between shielding energy pathway 825 and shielding energy pathway 815, for
example, and may
include not only a portion of complementary energy pathway 865BT, but at least
a portion of
material 801 or equivalent, in order to aid in the support of energy pathways
and the separation
or spacing functions desired. It should be noted that spacing 666 designates
an area that can be
755 found within, or beyond, a 817 perimeter, for example, wherein minimal to
no simultaneous
energy conditioning functions may be operable as described herein.
[0100] In an embodiment, a mufti-layer component of an energy pathway
arrangement may
include at least three common-sized and superposed, shielding electrodes that
are conductively
coupled to each other and that can be formed upon support material having
predetermined
760 properties. At least a first electrode and at least a second electrode can
be formed in a
predetermined manner upon the support material having predetermined
properties, and the first
electrode can be then stacked between at least two common-sized electrodes of
the at least three
common-sized electrodes. The second electrode can be stacked between at least
two common-
sized electrodes of the at least three common-sized electrodes, and thereby
the first electrode and
765 the second electrode sandwich the one centered common-sized electrode of
the three common-
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
29
sized electrodes, while the first electrode and the second electrode may be
substantially equally
offset relative to the three common-sized electrodes, such as by a
predetermined distance, and
the support material may isolates the three common-sized electrodes from the
first and the
second electrodes, thereby preventing a direct conduction coupling between the
first and the
770 second electrodes and the at least three common-sized electrodes
[0101] Thereby, the first electrode can be stacked between at least two common-
sized electrodes
of the at least three common-sized electrodes, and the second electrode can be
stacked between
at least two common-sized electrodes of the at least three common-sized
electrodes, and thereby
the first and second electrodes sandwich at least a portion of the at least
one centered common-
775 sized electrode of the at least three common-sized electrodes, such that
the first electrode and the
second electrode may be substantially equally offset relative to the at least
one centered
common-sized electrode, to prevent a direct electrical coupling between these
electrodes to form
a non-discrete or discrete energy conditioning electrode structure.
[0102] It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill that the shape,
thickness or size of elements
780 discussed herein may be varied, dependant upon the electrical application.
The elements of an
exemplary embodiment may be so-varied wherein arrangements of energy pathways
forms at
least two predetermined conductive shielding containers, which subsequently
create at least one
larger, at least partial faraday cage-like shield structure, which in turn
provides shielding
functions simultaneously under certain conditions, such as at energization,
for portions of
785 complementary paired differential electrodes that operate with the
disclosed principals in either a
discrete or non-discreet variant, such as in combination with at least one
energized circuit
portion.
[0103] An embodiment of a typical energy pathway arrangement is shown in
Figures 4A, 4B,
and 4C as a complementary, symmetrically balanced energy pathway arrangement.
Looking
790 particularly to Figure 4C, a plurality of consecutively superposed energy
pathways 815, 855BT,
800/800-IM, 855BT, and 810 are shown. These energy pathways may be composed of
a material
801 having varistor material properties, or predominately ferromagnetic
material properties, or
predominately dielectric material properties, for example, and may be spaced-
apart as shown by
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
806, 814, 814A, 814C, 814D, 814E, 814F. Each subsequent energy pathway is
superposed upon
795 the previous energy pathway, such as, for example, wherein the third
pathway 800/800-IM is
positioned above the second pathway 855BB. The first energy pathway 815 may be
conductively
coupled to both the third pathway 800/800-IM and the fifth pathway 810,
thereby creating a set
of shields. Each pathway of the set of shields may be substantially the same
size.
[0104] Conductively isolated from the shields is a set of electrodes. The set
of electrodes
800 includes a second energy pathway 855BT at least partially conductively
isolated from the fourth
energy pathway 855BT. The electrodes have similar conductive areas 80 arranged
facing each
other. Each electrode is substantially the same size and is smaller than each
shield.
[0105] In FIG. 3A, an example of a mufti-layer component as described could
also include at
least one or more electrode coupling material portions, such as 890A and 890B,
used for external
805 conductive 'liaison' between internal and external energy pathways. It
should be noted that
coupling material portions, such as 802A and 802B, 890A and 890B, can be
substituted by
almost any methodology of 'liaison', or direct coupling conductive elements,
for circuit
connection. For example, in FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C coupling conductive elements
are shown as
via hole conductors, such as via ~ hole conductor 888A, coupled conductively
by common
810 conductive coupling processes known in that art, to at least first
electrode plurality of 885BT,
865BT, 855BB, 875BB, and via hole conductor 888B is additionally coupled
conductively to at
least second electrode plurality of 875BT, 855BT, 865BB, 885BB, while via hole
conductor
777A and via hole conductor 777B for example, can be both conductively coupled
to 845, 835,
825, 815, 800/800-IM, 810, 820, 830, 840, respectively to be eventually
coupled conductively
815 common to an external common energy pathway, if desired.
[0106] Other energy pathway arrangements of FIGS. 4A-4C can be also operable
as at least
bypass propagation mode 855BT, 855BB energy pathway arrangements, wherein the
first, the
third, and the fifth pathway 815, 800/800-IM, 810 can be operable as shielding
of a portion of at
least the second energy pathway and the fourth energy pathway 855BT, 855BB,
and wherein the
820 plurality of pathways 815, 855BT, 800/800-IM, 855BB, 810 may also operable
together as a
portion of a capacitive network. The energy pathway arrangement is practicable
for simultaneous
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
31
common mode and differential mode filtering with a surge protection function.
At least one
shield, as shown by example 800/800-IM, of the plurality of shields 815,
800/800-IM, 810 may
be operable for receiving a voltage bias and/or a voltage divider, and a line-
to-line capacitance
825 value of approximately half of the line-to-ground capacitance value.
(0107] The energy conditioner of FIGS. 4A-4C may include at least two outer,
superposed
electrodes coupled to the plurality of shields, which shields may be made from
a material having
dielectric, varistor, or ferrite properties, and which superposed electrodes
may be operable as a
voltage divider. These two outer, superposed electrodes will, in an typical
embodiment, be
830 conductively coupled to another element, such as a substrate, a motor, and
a circuit, for
energized operations, for performing simultaneous, common mode and
differential mode
filtering for a circuit assembly serving an energy-utilizing load.
(0108] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, energy conditioners of FIGS. 4A-4C operate to
prevent the escape
835 of portions of near field electrical flux from within portions of the
overall the energy conditioner
of FIGS. 4A-4C, while also sustaining electrostatic shielding of portions of a
total amount of
energy parasitics. The energy conditioner of FIGS. 4A-4C can be operable as a
portion of a
sensor, or portion of an operational amplifier circuit assembly, either as a
discrete or non-discrete
component. In an embodiment, the number of pathways, common energy pathway
electrodes,
840 equally-sized differentially charged bypass electrodes, and feed-thru
conductive energy pathway
electrodes, can be multiplied in a predetermined manner to create a number of
conductive energy
pathway element combinations in a generally physical parallel and electrically
parallel
relationship, which physically and electrically parallel arrangement may be
electrically parallel
with respect to energized positioning between at least a circuit energy source
and at least a circuit
845 energy-utilizing load. This circuit assembly configuration will also
thereby create increased
capacitance values.
[0109] Refernng to FIGS. 4A-4C, a common conductive shield structure may be
utilized. Any
outer conductive elements used for circuit attachment are not shown herein. In
addition, utilizing
materials having predetermined properties 801 categorized primarily for a
certain electrical
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
32
850 conditioning function or results is contemplated by the applicant. This
includes a layered
application that uses non-discreet capacitive or inductive structure or
electrode within a
manufactured non-discrete integrated circuit die, for example, a super
capacitor application, or a
nano-sized energy-conditioning structure. For example, the discrete energy
pathway arrangement
may be operable to have material portions 801 made of a resin material.
Likewise, the formation
855 of discrete energy pathway arrangement might involve a firing or a heating
process to raise a
temperature of at least a portion of the energy pathway arrangement by at
least 15 degrees
Celsius within a 30-minute period, or by using photolithography.
[0110] FIGS. 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A show a plurality of shields 845, 835, 825,
815, 800/800-IM,
810, 820, 830, 840 of substantially similar size and shape. The plurality
includes at least a first, a
860 second, and a third shield 810, 800/800-IM, 815, which can be conductively
coupled to both
777B, 777A. The first electrode 855BB and the second electrode 855BT can be
disposed
substantially isolated and shielded from each other, in a symmetrical and
mutually
complementary orientation. The first electrode and the second electrode each
have at least one
corresponding face-to-face electrode portion 813E that is equal in size. The
non-face to face
865 electrode areas found occupying a portion of ALI regions, such as 6400,
6500, may be
substantially equal in size. Each electrode can have a face-to-face electrode
area, and/or
propagation area 813E, that is substantially equally proportional in size to
its non-face-to-face
area 6400, 6500. However, the face-to-face areas of the complementary
electrodes may, in an
embodiment, only be partially superimposed, as illustrated. Further, the
electrodes in the
870 illustrated embodiment may not be entirely encompassed within the outer
perimeter of the
shielding energy pathway superposed edges 805.
[0111] A shielding energy pathway of at least one embodiment of a number of
possible
embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement is shown in Figure 9A and 9B, and
is
illustrative of at least one embodiment operable with various split, energy
pathway
875 configurations. A split energy pathway 855/855-IMO-1 and 855/855-IMO-2
functions similarly
to an 855/855-IMO, non-split energy pathway. All energy pathways, shields or
electrodes, may
include split energy pathway configurations, with the exception of any
predetermined 800/800-
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
33
IM centrally positioned, shielding energy pathway. A split configuration of a
corresponding
superposed, closely spaced pair of 855/855-IMO-1 and 855/855-IMO-2 pathways
may include a
880 thin conductive or conductive-resistive material(s), minutely separated
814B by a portion of a
semi-conductive or non-conductive support material 801, including an
insulating material
portion 801 occupying a spacing and/or distance 814B that is normally thinner,
or less in
volume, than a spacing and/or distance of 814 or 814A, such as the spacing
found between
855/855-IMO and an adjacent shielding energy pathway 845, as shown in FIG. 8B.
Split energy
885 pathways can be beneficial in some configurations as this allows for an
increase in a total energy
pathway propagation area over that of a non-split energy pathway.
[0112] Larger common shielding conductors, such as 855/855-IMO may be included
as part of a
larger universal shielding arrangement that utilizes split pathway elements,
such as for at least
increasing of the energy propagation volume, as well as increasing certain
other energy pathway
890 functions, such as providing for better heat dissipation from energized
operations. Split energy
pathway construction may substantially increase the relative current carrying
ability of such a
configured energy pathway, as compared to non-split energy pathways, thereby
allowing not
only an increase in overall current handling ability versus a non-split
configuration, but also
allowing for a reduction in overall size of a comparable component of the same
capacitance.
895 [0113] In at least one embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of
an energy pathway
arrangement, each respective differential conductive energy pathway pair may
utilize a zero
voltage reference image node created along at least a portion of the internal
shielding energy
pathways. Energy conditioning functions to some degree may always occur, but
may be optimal
in predetermined areas whereat a portion of the circuit receiving a shielding
is within the
900 footprint of a sandwiching shielding pathways.
[0114] For example, a physical shielding cage-like effect, or electrostatic
shielding effect, having
electrically charged containment of immured portions of internally generated
energy parasitics
shielded from at least partially shielded, energy pathways may provide at
least some physical
shielding protection from externally generated energy parasitics coupling to
the same for at least
905 a partially shielded, energy pathway.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
34
[0115] Further, predetermined arrangements of selective interpositiing of
conductive material
799 with portions of material having predetermined properties 801 allows for
embodiments
operable for a very small distance of separation of oppositely charged active
conductive energy
pathways. A relative balanced and complementary-symmetrical arrangement with
respect to the
910 center shield 8"XX", or shield 800/800-IM, is utilized as the arrangement
fulcrum of balanced
reciprocal conductive portions.
[0116] At least a partial flux field cancellation of energy propagating along
paired and
electrically opposing complementary electrodes in a balanced but shifted
embodiment. Further,
simultaneous stray energy parasitics, complementary charged suppression, and
physical and
915 electrostatic shielding containment may also occur. This result is
achieved because the magnetic
flux energies travel at least partially along the energy pathway wherein the
RF return path is
normally parallel and adjacent to a corresponding source energy pathway. Here,
the magnetic
flux energy can sometimes be measured or observed relative to a return energy
pathway.
[0117] When one combines mutually opposing fields together, a cancellation or
minimization
920 effect is normally observed. The closer the complementary, symmetrically
oriented shields can
be brought together, the better the mutually opposing cancellation effect to
opposing energy
propagation is yielded. The more superposed orientation given the
complementary,
symmetrically oriented shields, the better result for the suppression of
parasitics and cancellation
effect. Correspondingly, these characteristics may be varied, for example, by
the shifting
925 discussed herein.
[0118] It is noted that paired and shifted energy pathways can be relative in
balance and
complementary-symmetrical and/or reciprocal positioning with respect to a
predetermined,
central energy pathway, such as shielding energy pathway 800/800-IM. An
embodiment may
include relatively shifted, balanced, complementary, and symmetrical
arrangement of
930 predetermined shields and electrodes complementarily sandwiching a
centrally positioned shield,
such as 800/800-IM, for example.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
[0119] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement like those of FIGs. 4-8C, a shifted energy pathway
arrangement
may include a multiplicity of layers including those arranged having a
shielding energy pathway,
935 an energy pathway, a shielding energy pathway, an energy pathway, and a
shielding energy
pathway, in a non-shifted, or a shifted, manner. Each of these multiplicity of
layers is centered
about, and complementary about, a predetermined, centrally located, shielding
energy pathway,
and the multiplicity is centered about a predetermined center shielding energy
pathway.
Complementarity and balance can be maintained about the predetermined center
shielding
940 energy pathway, although individual shielding energy pathways, and/or
energy pathways, may
be shifted to create discrete offset or shifted complementary energy pathways
in predetermined
arrangement that maintains overall balance and symmetry between a
predetermined matched,
energy pathway pair. Further, this shifting of complementary energy pathways
may expose at
least one complementary energy pathway, at least in part, outside the
perimeter of the superposed
945 shielding energy pathways, thereby allowing for parasitics, leakage, and
the like, and thereby
varying, for example, desired impedance characteristics for a predetermined
circuit portion.
[0120] For example, a given electrode may be shifted 5 points to the left.
This shifting must be
accounted for in the matched pairs about a center shield, and, consequently,
either an adjacent
matched pair electrode of opposing polarity may be shifted 5 points, or 5
adjacent electrodes of
950 opposite polarity may each shift 1 point, thereby maintaining balance and
complementarity. The
same is true wherein a shield is shifted to a greater degree over an electrode
of a given polarity,
and an electrode having opposite polarity is shifted in an opposite manner to
maintain balance
and complementarity. Further, energy pathways may remain within the perimeter
of the
superposed shielding energy pathways, and nonetheless be shifted thereunder.
Such a shifting
955 under the shielding energy pathways may, nonetheless, make desirable a
symmetry and
balancing overall. However, certain typical embodiments, such as that of FIG.
6A, wherein the
electrodes can be pulled toward the center of a shield and remain under the
shield, may evidence
differing electrical characteristics, such as inductive behavior, while
maintaining a desired ,
balanced, symmetrical state.
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
36
960 [0121] It should be noted that, in accordance with at least one embodiment
of a number of
possible embodiments of an energy pathway arrangement, it is practicable to
emulate a center tap
of resistor/voltage divider network. Other energy conditioning functions may
be provided by the
at least partial physical shielding, such as a decoupling function, transient
suppression function,
complementary energy cancellation function, energy blocking function, and
energy parasitic
965 suppression function. It should be noted that the just stated
electrostatic shielding may occur
upon energization and/or predetermined attachments or couplings of various
energy pathways
into various predetermined circuit portion configurations.
[0122] A resistor/voltage divider network can be normally constructed using a
ratio of various
integrated circuit resistors. However, various integrated circuit resistors
may be replaced by the
970 use of an exemplary embodiment, utilizing either specific
conductive/resistive materials 799A,
or utilizing naturally occurring resistance properties of almost any type or
combination of
material operable as an conductive material 799, or by varying the physical
layout, such as the
alignment, superimposition, or complementarity, of the final matched pairs. A
voltage dividing
function will also be present as portions of a common and shared electrode
shield structure can
975 be utilized to define a common voltage reference located at both
respective sides of the common
electrode shield structure instantaneously for at least a portion of a
circuit.
[0123] In accordance with at least one embodiment of a number of possible
embodiments of an
energy pathway arrangement, unwanted energy parasitics originating from
either, or both, of the
paired and oppositely co-acting; differential electrodes, may be at least
partially minimized or
980 suppressed, such as upon conductive coupling to circuitry, due to
operation of an exemplary
embodiment in a substantially balanced manner in accordance with the physical
positions and
arrangement of the shielding energy pathways. Further, in accordance with at
least one
embodiment of a number of possible embodiments of an energy pathway
arrangement, portions
of un-wanted energy parasitics and energy fields in a subsequent circuit, in
the form of both
985 differential mode and common mode energies, may be minimized.
[0124] As illustrated herein, examples of the possible energy-conditioning
arrangement(s), and
variants thereof, have been shown and described, and it is clearly conveyed
and understood that
CA 02434189 2003-07-07
WO 02/080330 PCT/US02/10302
37
other modifications and variations may be made thereto by those of ordinary
skill in the art
without departing from the spirit and scope of an exemplary embodiment. It
should also be
readily understood and appreciated that various aspects and element
limitations of the various
embodiments and elements shown may be interchanged, in whole, and/or in-part,
and/or by
modification, such that the preceding discussion is made by way of example
only, and that it is
not intended by the applicant to be limiting of an exemplary embodiment as
fivrther described in
the claims appended hereto.
