Matrix display apparatus with repair wires

A matrix display apparatus with a layered structure in which driving wires are layered on repair wires to sandwhich an insulating film therebetween, whereby it is possible to carry out complete driving of the display apparatus so that the location of picture element defects can be identified.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to a matrix display apparatus that has a dielectric 
substance between its substrates. More particularly, it relates to a 
matrix display apparatus that is used for a liquid crystal display 
apparatus, an electric luminescence (EL) display apparatus, a plasma 
display apparatus, etc. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In matrix display apparatuses, such as in a liquid crystal display 
apparatus, EL display apparatus, or plasma display apparatus, voltage is 
applied between the electrodes for the display, and the optical 
characteristics of the display medium that is positioned between the 
electrodes for the display are modulated, so that a display pattern is 
formed. The method for the driving of the electrodes for the display can 
be the simple matrix method, the active matrix driving method, or other 
well-known methods. 
One example of a display apparatus that makes use of the simple matrix 
method is shown in cross-section in FIG. 6. On glass substrate 31, 
scanning wires 33 with a thickness of 2000 .ANG. made of Mo, scanning 
transparent electrodes 32 with a thickness of 1000 .ANG., an insulating 
film 34 with a thickness of 2000 .ANG. made of SiO.sub.2, and an 
orientation film 35 are formed in that order. The scanning transparent 
electrodes 32 act as the display electrodes, and the scanning wires 33 act 
as driving wires that drive the scanning transparent electrodes 32. 
On glass substrate 37, which faces the substrate 31 with a liquid crystal 
layer 36 therebetween, there are signal wires 39 with a thickness of 2000 
.ANG. made of Mo, transparent signal electrodes 38 with a thickness of 
1000 .ANG., and an orientation film 40. The transparent signal electrodes 
38 act as the electrodes for the display, and the signal wires 39 act as 
the driving wires for the driving of the transparent signal electrodes 38 
for signaling. FIG. 7 is a planar view of this display apparatus seen from 
the side of substrate 37. As shown in FIG. 7, one part of each of the 
scanning transparent electrodes 32 and the entire surface of the 
corresponding scanning wire 33 are layered together, so that they are 
electrically connected. In the same way, one part of each of the 
transparent signal electrodes 38 and the entire surface of the 
corresponding signal wire 39 are layered together, so that they are 
electrically connected. The portion of the scanning transparent electrode 
32 that is not layered together with the scanning wire 33 and the portion 
of the transparent signal electrode 38 that is not layered together with 
the signal wire 39 overlap each other, so that the region of overlap 
constitutes a picture element of the display. 
FIG. 8A is one example of an active matrix substrate that can be used in an 
active matrix display apparatus. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional diagram of 
the display apparatus that uses the active matrix substrate of FIG. 8A, 
cut along the line b--b in FIG. 8A. On glass substrate 1, there is formed 
a base coat film 3 over its entire surface, and on the base coat film 3, 
gate bus wires 4 that act as scanning wires are disposed so as to form a 
latticework with source bus wires 5 that act as signal wires. In the space 
between the gate bus wires 4 and the source bus wires 5, there is 
sandwiched a base insulating film 11 (see below). A portion of each of the 
gate bus wires 4 acts as a gate electrode 9. There are picture element 
electrodes 6 made of a transparent conductive film (made of indium tin 
oxide) in the respective rectangles surrounded by the gate bus wires 4 and 
source bus wires 5, the picture element electrodes 6 forming a matrix. The 
picture element electrodes 6 act as the display electrodes. Near the edge 
of the picture element electrode 6, there is a switching element formed 
from a thin-film transistor (TFT) 7. A drain electrode 13 of TFT 7 and the 
picture element electrode 6 are connected electrically by drain wire 25, 
which acts as a drive wire for the picture element electrode. The TFT 7 is 
placed on the gate bus wire 4. Source electrode 15 and source bus wire 5 
of the TFT 7 are connected to each other by branch wire 8. 
The sectional structure near TFT 7 will be described with reference to FIG. 
8B. On the top of the gate electrode 9 that forms one part of the gate bus 
wire 4, there is a gate insulating film 10 obtained by the anodic 
oxidation of the surface of said gate electrode 9. On the top of this 
film, there are layered base insulating film 11, which also acts as a gate 
insulating film, an intrinsic semiconductor layer 12 made of amorphous 
silicon (a-Si), a semiconductor-layer protective film 16 that protects the 
upper surface of the intrinsic semiconductor layer 12, and n-type 
semiconductor layers 14. On the n-type semiconductor layers 14, there is 
formed a source electrode 15, which is connected with branch wire 8, and a 
drain electrode 13, which is connected with picture element electrode 6. 
The n-type semiconductor layers 14 provide ohmic contact between the 
source electrode 15 and the drain electrode 13. The protective film 17 
covers almost all of the upper surfaces of TFT 7 and the picture element 
electrode 6, and on the upper surface of the protective film 17, there is 
an orientation film 19. 
On the inner surface of glass substrate 20 that faces glass substrate 1, a 
color filter layer 21, an opposing electrode 22, and an orientation film 
23 are disposed, in that order. Between the glass substrates 1 and 20 
there is a liquid crystal layer 18, which acts as a display medium. To 
improve the reproducibility of colors when a color display is made, a 
light-proof film (not shown) can be provided on the active matrix 
substrate or on the opposing substrate, so that the light-proof film is 
layered on part of the outer portion of the picture element electrodes 6. 
In the matrix display apparatus shown in FIG. 6, there can occur a 
defective connection in the driving wires 33 (39) connected to the display 
electrodes 32 (38). Also, with the active-matrix display apparatus shown 
in FIG. 8, there can develop a defective connection in the driving wires 
that are formed from the scanning wires 4 connected to TFT 7, the signal 
wires 5, and the picture element electrode driving wires 25 in the space 
between the picture element electrode 6 and the TFT 7. In addition, there 
may be a failure of contact between the picture element electrode driving 
wires 25 and the picture element electrodes 6. If such a failure takes 
place, a defect in the wiring or in a picture element occurs. Such defect 
causes decreased productivity, which is a problem in manufacturing. 
In recent years, a means to overcome defects in matrix display apparatuses 
has been disclosed. A means by which laser light is used to treat defects 
such as a connection defect or a failure of contact, melting the metal of 
the electrode in this area, and thereby repairing the defect, has been 
disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 61-56382. However, 
it is impossible at times to use this means to repair the defect if the 
metal to be melted is too thick, or in certain kinds of failure of 
connection. 
Defects in wiring or in picture elements can be readily identified by the 
operation of the display apparatus, in a simple and accurate process. The 
defects can be identified by eye with the use of a lens, etc. However, to 
identify the location of a defect in the substrate before the display 
apparatus has been completed involves an inspection process that is 
complicated and requires a highly accurate means of measurement. The 
technique mentioned above in which laser light is used to repair defects 
is generally done before the completion of the display apparatus. When 
this method of irradiation with laser light is used after the display 
apparatus is completed to repair the picture element electrodes with a 
switching element, the insulation between the picture element electrode 
and the display medium may be damaged by the heat that is generated. With 
damaged insulating properties, it is impossible for the potential of the 
picture element electrode to be maintained even with the use of the 
switching element. The outcome is that the defect in the picture element 
is not actually repaired, and the defect is therefore still present even 
after repair. For these reasons, defects must be repaired by this 
technique before the completion of the display apparatus. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The matrix display apparatus of this invention, which overcomes the 
above-discussed and numerous other disadvantages and deficiencies of the 
prior art, comprises a pair of substrates, at least one of which is 
translucent, a display medium that is placed between said pair of 
substrates and that modulates its optical characteristics in response to 
voltage that is applied, display electrodes that are formed on the inner 
surface of at least one of said pair of substrates, driving wires for the 
driving of said display electrodes, and repair wires for the repair of 
said driving wires, wherein said matrix display apparatus has a layered 
structure in which said driving wires are layered on said repair wires to 
sandwich an insulating film therebetween. 
Alternatively, the active matrix display apparatus of this invention 
comprises a pair of substrates, at least one of which is translucent, a 
display medium that is placed between said pair of substrates and that 
modulates its optical characteristics in response to voltage that is 
applied, picture element electrodes arranged in matrix form on the inner 
surface of one of said pair of substrates; switching elements for driving 
the picture element electrodes, and driving wires that have scanning wires 
and signal wires connected to the switch elements, as well as picture 
element electrode driving wires that connect the switching elements and 
the picture element electrodes, wherein an electrically conductive 
light-proof film is layered on the outer portions of the picture element 
electrodes and on the driving wires to sandwich an insulating film 
therebetween, and divided into plural parts, and an area of the conductive 
light-proof film that is on the outer portions of the picture element 
electrodes and on the driving wires is coated with a protective film. 
With the display apparatus of this invention, it is possible to carry out 
complete driving of the display apparatus so that the picture defects can 
be located. With the display apparatus of this invention, there is 
provided a layered structure with driving wires for driving of the display 
electrodes and repair wires for the repair of said driving wires layered 
on each other with an insulating film therebetween. With this structure, 
even if a connection defect occurs in the driving wires, it is possible to 
correct this defect in the completed display apparatus. This repair 
process can be done by the use of laser light from the outside of the 
display apparatus in the areas where the driving wires and the repair 
wires overlap each other in the regions that are positioned on both sides 
of the defect. By the use of the laser irradiation, the insulating layer 
between the driving wire and the repair wire is broken down, and an 
electrical connection is made between these wires. There is some distance 
between the display medium and layers that contain the driving wires, the 
insulating film, and the repair wires, because of the presence of a 
protective film, so there is no danger that metal melted by the use of 
laser light will become mixed with the display medium, even if repair done 
with the use of laser light is undertaken after the assembly of the 
display apparatus. 
With the display apparatus of this invention, an electrically conductive 
film that is light-proof, which acts as the repair wire, is layered on the 
outside portions of the picture element electrodes and driving wires so as 
to sandwich the insulating film therebetween. The electrically conductive 
light-proof film is divided into a number of separate portions. With such 
a structure, it is easy to repair connection defects of the driving wires 
or contact defects between the picture element driving wire and the 
corresponding picture element electrode. Laser light is used to irradiate 
the areas on both sides of the defect where the electrically conductive 
light-proof film is disposed on the driving wire or the picture element 
electrode, thereby repairing of the defect. Because the insulating film at 
the area of the irradiation with laser light is broken down, the 
electrically conductive light-proof film comes to be electrically 
connected with the driving wiring or the picture element electrode. With 
the display apparatus of this invention, there is a protective film to 
cover the area where the electrically conductive light-proof film is 
layered on the driving wires and picture element electrodes, so even when 
repairs by means of irradiation with laser light are undertaken after the 
completion of the display apparatus, there is no danger that the heat 
generated will damage the insulation that exists between the picture 
element electrodes and the display medium. 
Thus, the invention described herein makes possible the objective of 
providing a matrix display apparatus in which picture element defects can 
be repaired by the identification of the location of the picture element 
defect by use of the display apparatus itself whenever a picture element 
defect arising from a disconnection failure occurs in the driving wires 
and whenever a contact failure occurs between the picture element 
electrode driving wiring and the switching element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
EXAMPLE 1 
FIG. 1 shows a matrix display apparatus of this invention. This example is 
of a simple matrix display apparatus. On glass substrate 31, there is a 
repair wire 43 made of Mo 2000 .ANG. thick. Over the entire surface of 
this repair wire 43, there is an insulating film 42 made of SiO.sub.2 3000 
.ANG. thick. On the insulating film 42, there is scanning wire 33 made of 
Mo metal 2000 .ANG. thick placed on the repair wiring 43 that is on the 
insulating film 42. On this scanning wire 33 there is layered a scanning 
transparent electrode 32 1000 .ANG. thick, which is electrically connected 
with the scanning wire 33. The scanning transparent electrode 32 acts as 
the display electrode, and the scanning wire 33 acts as the driving wire 
that drives scanning transparent electrode 32. On the top of this 
structure, there are formed an insulating film 34 2000 .ANG. thick made of 
SiO.sub.2 and an orientation film 35, in this order. 
Facing this substrate 31 there is a similar structure with, on a glass 
substrate 37, a repair wire 41 2000 .ANG. thick made of Mo, and, over the 
entire surface of the repair wire 41, an insulating film 42 3000 .ANG. 
thick made of SiO.sub.2. Formed on top of the repair wire 41, which is on 
top of the insulating film 42, there are a signal wire 39 2000 .ANG. thick 
made of Mo and a signal transparent electrode 38 1000 .ANG. thick that is 
electrically connected to the signal wire 39. The signal transparent 
electrode 38 acts as the display electrode, and the signal wire 39 acts as 
the driving wire to drive the signal transparent electrode 38. On the top 
of this structure, there is formed an orientation film 40. Unlike in the 
case of the glass substrate 31 mentioned above, there is no film 
corresponding to the insulating film 34 formed on top of the glass 
substrate 37. 
FIG. 2 is a plan view seen from the side of the glass substrate 37. 
Scanning wire 33 is connected with the belt-shaped scanning transparent 
electrode 32 along one long edge, and any region where the scanning wire 
33 and the scanning transparent electrode 32 are layered together 
maintains the electrical connection therebetween. In the same way, signal 
wire 39 is formed so as to be connected along one long edge of signal 
transparent electrode 38, and any region where the signal wire 39 and 
signal transparent electrode 38 are layered together maintains the 
electrical connection therebetween. The region where the scanning 
transparent electrode 32 is not layered on the scanning wire 33 intersects 
the region where the signal transparent electrode 38 is not layered on the 
signal wire 39. The region of intersection constitutes a picture element 
that is part of the display. In the space between the substrates 31 and 
37, there is a liquid crystal layer 36 that acts as the display medium. 
Picture element defects can be located by the driving of the entire matrix 
substrate constructed as described above. When there is a disconnection 
between the scanning wire 33 and the signal wire 39, a wire defect occurs 
that originates at the connection defect. It can be understood from the 
direction of the wire defect generated whether the scanning wire 33 or the 
signal wire 39 has a disconnection somewhere. When there is a 
disconnection in the scanning wire 33, laser light can be used to 
irradiate both side areas of the disconnection in the scanning wire 33 and 
the corresponding areas of the repair wire 43 that is disposed under the 
scanning wire 33. The insulating film 42, affected by the laser light, 
breaks down, and the two areas of the scanning wire 33 and the 
corresponding two areas of the repair wire 43 are thereby connected 
electrically. In the same way, when there is a disconnection in the signal 
wire 39, laser light can be used to irradiate both side areas of the 
disconnection in the signal wire 39 and the corresponding areas of the 
repair wire 41 that is disposed under the signal wire 39. The insulating 
film 42 affected by the laser light breaks down, and the two areas of the 
signal wire 39 and the corresponding two areas of the repair wire 41 are 
connected electrically. It is possible to repair defects in this way. 
EXAMPLE 2 
FIG. 3A is a plan view of an active matrix substrate that is another 
example of the display apparatus of this invention. FIG. 3B is a 
cross-sectional view taken along line B--B of FIG. 3A, showing the active 
matrix substrate used in the display apparatus of FIG. 3A. On glass 
substrate 1, there is an electrically conductive light-proof film 2 
composed of single or multiple layers of Ta, Al, Mo, Ni, etc., or of 
resin, etc. In this example, a layer of Ta that is about 3000 .ANG. thick 
was used. The conductive light-proof film 2 is shaped like a frame and is 
layered on the outer parts of picture element electrode 6, gate bus wire 
4, and source bus wirings 5. The frame-shaped conductive light-proof film 
2 is divided into four portions, 2a-2d. Over the entire surface of 
substrate 1 covered by the conductive light-proof film 2, a base coat film 
3 about 3000 .ANG. thick made of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, A1.sub.2 O.sub.3, 
Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, etc., is layered. On the base coat film 3, there is 
formed in the shape of a lattice the gate bus wires 4 (4000 .ANG. thick) 
that act as scanning wires and the source bus wires 5 (3000 .ANG. thick) 
that act as the signal wires. As a rule, the gate bus wires 4 are made of 
a single layer or multiple layers of Ta, Al, Ti, Ni, Mo, or the like, but 
in this example, Ta was used. The source bus wires 5 can be formed of 
these same metals. In this example, Ti was used. At the point of 
intersection of the gate bus wires 4 and source bus wires 5, there is 
sandwiched between the two the base insulating film 11 mentioned below. In 
the rectangular area formed by the gate bus wires 4 and the source bus 
wires 5, there is provided a picture element electrode 6 made from a 
transparent conductive film (ITO), forming a picture element pattern in 
the form of a matrix. The picture element electrode 6 acts as a display 
electrode. Near a corner of the picture element electrode 6, there is 
placed TFT 7, which is a switching element. TFT 7 is formed on top of the 
gate bus wire 4, and the branch wire 8 connects the source electrode 15 of 
the TFT 7 and the source bus wire 5. The drain wire 25 electrically 
connects the drain electrode 13 of TFT 7 and the picture element electrode 
6. Drain wire 25 acts as the picture element electrode driving wire. In 
this example, gate bus wire 4, source bus wire 5, and drain wire 25 are 
driving wires. 
The structure near the TFT 7 will be explained with reference to FIG. 3B. 
On the glass substrate 1, there is formed the conductive light-proof film 
2d, and there is a base coat film 3 that is formed over the entire 
substrate surface covered by this light-proof film 2d. On the top of the 
base coat film 3, there is formed a gate electrode 9 of Ta that is formed 
as one portion of the gate bus wires 4. On gate electrode 9, there is 
formed a gate insulating film 10 made of Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, obtained by the 
anodic oxidation of the surface of the gate electrode 9. On the gate 
insulating film 10, there are layered a base insulating film 11 that acts 
as a gate insulating film and that is made of SiN.sub.x (e.g., Si.sub.3 
N.sub.4), an intrinsic semiconductor layer 12 made of a-Si, a 
semiconductor layer protective film 16 made of SiN.sub.x, and an n-type 
semiconductor layer 14 made of a-Si, in that order. On the n-type 
semiconductor layer 14, there is formed source electrode 15, which is 
connected to branch wires 8, and drain electrodes 13 that are connected 
with picture element electrodes 6. The n-type semiconductor layer 14 
provides ohmic contact of the source electrodes and the drain electrodes. 
The semiconductor layer protective film 16 covers the intrinsic 
semiconductor layer 12 on its upper surface, and when the source electrode 
15 and the drain electrode 13 are formed by etching, this film 16 acts as 
an etching stopper. The semiconductor layer protective film 16 prevents 
the intrinsic semiconductor layer 12 from exposure to an etchant used for 
the electrodes. The source electrode 15 and the drain electrode 13 are 
formed from Ti, Ni, Al, or the like. The picture element electrode 6 can 
be formed by being patterned on the base insulating film 11. The thickness 
for the base insulating film 11 should be about 1500-6000 .ANG.; in this 
example, it was 2000-3500 .ANG.. Almost all of the upper surfaces of the 
TFT 7 and the picture element electrode 6 is covered by a protective film 
17 made of SiN.sub.x. On the protective film 17, there is layered an 
orientation film 19 that controls the orientation of the liquid crystal 
layer 18 that is the display medium. This orientation film 19 can be made 
of SiO.sub.2, polyimide resin, etc. The thickness of the protective film 
17 should be about 2000-10000 .ANG.; in this example, it was about 5000 
.ANG.. Moreover, for the base insulating film 11 and protective film 17, 
an oxide or nitride of SiO.sub.x, Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 
TiO.sub.2, Y.sub.2 O.sub.3, etc., instead of SiN.sub.x can be used. To 
prevent the formation of an electric double layer between the protective 
film 17 and the picture element electrode 6, there can be formed a window 
in the protective film 17 at the center of the picture element electrode 
6. 
Opposite to the glass substrate 1 that forms the picture element electrodes 
6, there are formed in layers on the inside surface of glass substrate 20 
a color filter layer 21, an opposing electrode 22 that faces the picture 
element electrode 6, and an orientation layer 23. 
In the space between the pair of glass substrates 1 and 20, there is a 
twisted nematic liquid crystal layer 18 that is a display medium the 
orientation of which changes in response to voltage applied between the 
picture element electrodes 6 and the opposite electrode 22, which results 
in optical modulation. 
With an active matrix display apparatus of the construction described 
above, the driving of all of the picture element electrodes 6 through the 
TFTs 7 from all gate bus wires 4 and all source bus wires 5 makes it 
possible to identify by eye the location of picture element defects that 
have occurred. The picture element defects that have occurred can be 
repaired by the use of the conductive light-proof film 2. That is, it is 
possible to make use of the conductive light-proof film as repair wiring. 
FIG. 4 shows the situation when a disconnection in source bus wire 5 is 
being repaired. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the portion of the 
source bus wire 5 that is layered on the conductive light-proof film 2d. 
The view is in the direction of the extension of source bus wire 5. As 
shown by the arrows 24 in FIG. 4, laser light, infrared rays, an electron 
beam, or another form of energy is used to irradiate, through the 
transparent substrate 1, the superposed portions of source bus wire 5 and 
the conductive light-proof film 2d at both sides where the disconnection 
is located. In this example, YAG laser light was used. As a result of this 
laser irradiation, the base coat film 3 and the base insulating film 11 
were broken down. The conductive light-proof film 2 and the source bus 
wire 5 were connected by being fused together. In this way, part of the 
source bus wiring 5 on one side of the location of the disconnection and 
part of the source bus wiring 5 at the other side of the location of the 
disconnection were connected electrically through the conductive 
light-proof film 2, so the disconnection was repaired. When there is a 
connection defect in the gate bus wire 4, repairs can be done in the same 
way. In this situation, the laser light breaks down the base coat film 3 
between the gate bus wire 4 and the conductive light-proof film 2a, so 
that the gate bus wire 4 and the conductive light-proof film 2a are 
connected electrically with each other. If there is a contact defect 
between the picture element electrode 6 and the drain wire 25, laser light 
is directed onto the portion of the picture element electrode 6 that is 
layered on the conductive light-proof film 2a or 2d and onto the portion 
of conductive light-proof film 2a or 2d that is layered on the drain wire 
25. In this way, the drain electrode 13 and the picture element electrode 
6 come to be connected electrically through the conductive light-proof 
film 2a or 2d. 
The repair of defects in connection and contact described above takes place 
between the protective film 17 and the glass substrate 1. Protective film 
17 is a transparent insulator, and laser light can pass through it. For 
that reason, the laser light is absorbed by the driving wires or 
conductive light-proof film 2. These are instantly melted when heated in 
this way. Thus, the laser light fuses the metals and the insulating layers 
sandwiched between these metals, and the protective film 17 is not broken 
down. There is no deterioration in the insulation between the picture 
element electrode 6 and the liquid crystal layer 18, which is the display 
medium, so the picture element defect does not occur again. 
In this example, there is a conductive light-proof film 2 for each picture 
element electrode 6. The film 2 is shaped like a frame surrounding the 
picture element electrode 6. The shape of the conductive light-proof film 
2 is not limited to this shape; it may take on any shape that allows the 
conductive light-proof film to surround the corresponding picture element 
electrode in a continuous manner. The conductive light-proof film 2 may be 
divided into any number of parts that are not continuous with each other, 
if desired. On the glass substrate 1, there is no conductive light-proof 
film 2, but this film may be layered onto the gate bus wire 4, source bus 
wiring 5, TFT 7, drain electrode 13, picture element electrode 6, or the 
like, so as to sandwich an insulating film 30 therebetween as seen in FIG. 
5. When this is provided, the base coat 3 is not always needed. 
The example given here is of an active matrix liquid crystal display 
apparatus, but this invention is not limited thereto. This invention can 
be used in a display apparatus in which a switching element, such as a 
metal-insulator-metal (MIM) element, a diode, or a varistor is used. 
This example can be used in display apparatuses that use a thin-film 
light-emitting layer, a distributed EL light-emitting layer, or plasma 
luminosity as the display medium. 
The display apparatus of this invention is constructed so that any 
connection defect that occurs at the driving wire or any contact defect 
that occurs between the picture element electrode wire and the picture 
element electrode can be repaired, so that productivity in manufacturing 
is increased. This invention makes it possible to correct picture element 
defects when the display apparatus itself can be used to identify the 
location of the picture element defect. Therefore, the processes of 
inspection and repair are simplified, so that mass production of the 
display apparatus can be achieved and manufacturing costs decreased. 
It is understood that various other modifications will be apparent to and 
can be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the 
scope and spirit of this invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that 
the scope of the claims appended hereto be limited to the description as 
set forth herein, but rather that the claims be construed as encompassing 
all the features of patentable novelty that reside in the present 
invention, including all features that would be treated as equivalents 
thereof by those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains.