Abstract: The present invention relates to devices and methods that enhance the accuracy of lesion excision, through severing, capturing and removal of a lesion within soft tissue. Furthermore, the present invention relates to devices and methods for the excision of breast tissue based on the internal anatomy of the breast gland. A tissue severing device generally comprises a guide having at least one lumen and a cutting tool contained within the lumen. The cutting tool is capable of extending from the lumen and forming an adjustable cutting loop. The cutting loop may be widened or narrowed and the angle between the loop extension axis and the guide axis may be varied. Optional tissue marker and tissue collector may additionally be provided. A method for excising a mass of tissue from a patient is also provided. The device and method are particularly useful for excising a lesion from a human breast, e.g.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network profiling that may be used by a provider of high bandwidth connections to facilitate connectivity and service order entry by customers are disclosed. Typically, the customer has a plurality of client. The network profiling method generally comprises specifying at least one network configuration profile, the specifying including selecting a preferred CPE, selecting a network mode, selecting a network feature, selecting at least one network feature parameter including a static parameter, and defining a value for the static network feature parameter, wherein the network configuration profile includes at least one dynamic network feature parameter, the dynamic parameter having an unspecified value in the network configuration profile.

Abstract: A system and method for ultrasound imaging of breast tissue by injecting an ultrasound contrast agent into a duct lumen of a patient's breast to enhance the imaging of one or more ducts within a specified lobe of the breast to improve characterization of a lesion or lesions within the duct system of the specified lobe are disclosed. The ultrasound contrast agent used to improve breast imaging may be injected into the duct lumen through an orifice on the nipple and/or a duct wall into the duct lumen. The ultrasound contrast agent may be injected prior to and/or during ultrasound imaging. The ultrasound contrast agent may be an acoustically detectable gas such as a halogenated hydrocarbon, halogenated alkane gases, nitrogen, helium, argon and/or xenon. The halogenated alkane gas may be a perfluorinated hydrocarbon such as saturated perfluorocarbon, unsaturated perfluorocarbon, and/or cyclic perfluorocarbon. The acoustically detectable gas may alternatively be mixed in a liquid solution.

Abstract: A fast convolution method applicable to convolve a signal with a smooth kernel that can be approximated by a spline kernel, and a system configured to perform such method using software or signal processing circuitry. Unlike Fourier-based convolution methods which require on the order of N log N arithmetic operations for a signal of length N, the method of the invention requires only on the order of N arithmetic operations to do so. Unlike wavelet-based convolution approximations (which typically also require more arithmetic operations than are required in accordance with the invention to convolve the same signal), the method of the invention is exact for convolution kernels which are spline kernels. Moreover, convolution in accordance with the invention can be acyclic convolution (achieved without zero-padding) or cyclic convolution, and in both cases the invention imposes no restriction (such as evenness) on signal length.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing uninterrupted transfer of voice telephony provided by a first service provider to a derived voice technology over a digital subscriber line provided by a second service provider are disclosed are disclosed. The system generally comprises a first telephone line configured to connect to a first and a second voice switch of the first and second service providers, respectively, having a same assigned telephone number and a derived voice customer premise equipment configured to connect to the first and second telephone lines and to selectively connect a telephone to the second voice switch. The method generally comprises establishing connectivity between a telephone and a first and a second voice switch of the first and second service providers via a first and a second line, respectively, having a same assigned telephone number and selectively connecting the telephone to the second voice switch via a client premise equipment.

Abstract: A card with pop-out object and display system is disclosed. The display card generally comprises a base having a non-display surface and an opposing display surface and comprising a platform portion disposed between at least two support portions for supporting the platform portion when the display card is in a display configuration, and at least two flaps securable to the non-display surface of the base when the display card is in a generally flat, storage configuration and securable to the display surface when the card is in the display configuration, wherein the non-display surface is generally hidden from view when the display card is in the display configuration. The display card typically further includes an object and an object housing attached to the non-display surface of the base. The object housing defines an opening for removably storing the object therein. The base serves as a backing to the object when the object is stored in the object housing.

Abstract: A system and method for synchronization of video raster display outputs from multiple PC graphics subsystems to facilitate synchronized output onto multiple displays are disclosed. The system and method allow multiple graphics subsystems, in a single or multiple chassis, to be used to provide multiple synchronized view ports of a single 3D database or a wide desktop with reduced inter-monitor artifacts and interference.

Abstract: Systems and methods for network profiling that may be used by a provider of high bandwidth connections to facilitate connectivity and service order entry by customers are disclosed. Typically, the customer has a plurality of client. The network profiling method generally comprises specifying at least one network configuration profile, the specifying including selecting a preferred CPE, selecting a network mode, selecting a network feature, selecting at least one network feature parameter including a static parameter, and defining a value for the static network feature parameter, wherein the network configuration profile includes at least one dynamic network feature parameter, the dynamic parameter having an unspecified value in the network configuration profile.

Abstract: A telecommunication system which provides secure access from a user system at a user location to target systems at a desired target location (“secure location”). The system is implemented such that connectivity to any other target locations from a user system is disabled when the user system requires connectivity to the target systems at the secure location. By disabling the connectivity, the present invention ensures that access to the target location does not expose the target systems to the risk of unauthorized access. A simple user interface is also provided. The user may select the desired target location from among several target locations, for example, by operating a physical interface on a customer premises equipment (CPE).

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing remote configuration and on-demand management of a CPE over DSL are disclosed. The method generally comprises creating a temporary management ATM virtual circuit between a remote Point-to-Point Protocol (“PPP”) server and the CPE via an ATM network, assigning a temporary Internet Protocol (“IP”) address to the CPE using PPP over ATM, telneting from the PPP server to the temporary IP address of the CPE, and downloading CPE configuration from the PPP server to the CPE. The creating, assigning, telneting, and downloading may be performed between the remote PPP server and a management port of the CPE. The system generally comprises a remote PPP server, a CPE including a management port adapted to send requests for connection to the PPP server and to receive data downloaded from the PPP server, and a temporary management ATM virtual circuit between the PPP server and the management port of the CPE.

Abstract: A connection manager which requires re-authentication of a user of a permanent virtual connection (PVC). Data transfer may be disabled upon the occurrence of a pre-specified condition, and is enabled only upon proper authentication. An out-of-band connection (e.g., another PVC) may be used for such authentication. The connection manager may disable data transfer by a controlling a customer premise equipment (CPE) serving the managed PVC.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bi-directional raster scanning (“serpentine scanning”) for an electron beam lithography system. Improved circuit components are described for generating the true triangular waveform required in bi-directional scanning. The circuitry of the present invention provides control of signal amplitude, frequency and phase to better than 1 ppm by making use of signal generation circuitry described pursuant to the present invention. A series of coarse and fine tuning delay adjustments pursuant to the present invention accommodate a variety of operating conditions. Another embodiment of the present invention relates to an optimization of the data path hardware for bi-directional scanning, including isolating a section of the data path hardware specifically to provide calibration scans. The delay circuit built into the data preparation hardware helps compensate for delays caused by finite bandwidth in the analogue drivers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a positioning stage for precisely positioning an object within a limited range of travel (e.g. 100 &mgr;m). By way of example, the stage can be used to position an electron source such as a field emitter in an electron beam microcolumn. The stage includes a block which defines a channel to allow flexure along a first axis. The block also defines another channel to allow flexure along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Using actuators in the channels to flex a portion of the block, the object supported by the block can be precisely positioned to a desired location in a horizontal plane defined by the first and second axes.

Abstract: A lithography method and apparatus which represent a substrate surface as gray level values and determine a shape data that specifies a shape and position of a flash field. The apparatus receives a pattern in a vector format, represents the substrate surface as a grid of pixels, and then represents each pixel as a gray level value specifying a proportion of the pixel that includes the pattern. Subsequently the apparatus constructs a matrix of a quadrant of four pixels and surrounding pixels, modifies the matrix so that three intermediate shapes corresponding to an exposed region of the quadrant may be provided, determines an intermediate shape data of the quadrant; and performs a reverse modification on the shape to determine the shape data that specifies a flash field.

Abstract: The microcolumn configuration of the present invention provides for emission noise reduction through the use of a screened beam-limiting aperture for monitoring the electron beam current. This novel approach utilizes a screening aperture located between the emitter and the beam-limiting aperture, which screening aperture collects most of the current transmitted by the first lens of the electron beam column. In order to achieve good noise suppression, the screening aperture should let through only the portion of the beam where the electrons are correlated. The current collected by the beam-limiting aperture is then used as a reference signal in the image processing. The elimination of this noise increases the detection sensitivity of an inspection tool. This reduces the total number of required pixels and therefore increases the throughput of the tool.

Abstract: A plurality of features are first formed on a workpiece in a special standard test pattern, and these features are then overwritten with a charged particle beam in an overlay pattern which matches the standard pattern such that the overlay regions overlap edges of the features in the standard pattern. A backscatter signal is generated by the interaction of the special standard patterns on the workpiece and the overwriting particle beam, and this signal is analyzed to identify and diagnose errors caused by the charged particle beam tool. The standard pattern may be formed using the same tool in its fully qualified state, and subsequent overlay tests may be conducted to identify changes in the state of that same tool.

Abstract: A method and system for electron beam lithography at high throughput with shorter electron beam column length, reduced electron-electron interactions, and higher beam current. The system includes a photocathode having a pattern composed of a periodic array of apertures with a specific geometry. The spacing of the apertures is chosen so as to maximize the transmission of the laser beam through apertures significantly smaller than the photon wavelength. The patterned photocathode is illuminated by an array of laser beams to allow blanking and gray-beam modulation of the individual beams at the source level by the switching of the individual laser beams in the array. Potential applications for this invention include electron beam direct write on wafers and mask patterning.

Abstract: A computer assisted rollout of digital subscriber loop (DSL) technology based services in new geographical areas covering several central offices. The tasks required for rolling out service in each central office are indicated in a computer system. As each task is complete, the task is indicated to be complete. Dependancies (required or desired sequence) in execution of tasks also may be indicated to assist in both scheduling of the tasks and in verifying that the tasks are performed in a desired sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for non-contact electrical testing of printed circuit boards, solid state display devices, integrated circuits and other substrates with traces that connect together components of a circuit, using two modulated charged particle beams. The apparatus includes two sources of beams, electrodes to modulate the beams, optics to focus the beams and deflection coils to deflect the beams over a large area. The apparatus also has an enclosure around the optics and the deflection coils of magnetically soft material. A surrounding solenoid excitation coil creates an almost uniform axial magnetic field within the magnetic enclosure. A detection system for detecting the voltage contrast signals, including suitable signal processing system is also provided. The use of two beams simultaneously allows fast, direct measurement of impedance parameters. By selecting appropriate beam modulation frequencies, the sensitivity to a certain kind of defect can be selectively increased.

Abstract: A moving photoconverter device that converts an incident light image into an equivalent electron or other charged particle beam image. The moving photoconverter is ring shaped and is rotated by using a motor such that the incident light image exposes a moving photoconverter surface. The photoconverter may additionally or alternatively move in an X-Y motion or radially. Continuous regeneration is provided at a site remote from the region of moving photoconverter device that converts an incident light image into an equivalent electron or other charged particle beam image.