(19)

(11)

EP 1 031 147 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 30.08.2000 Bulletin 2000/35 (21) Application number: 98957881.0 (22) Date of filing: 12.11.1998

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G11B 7/26, B32B 31/28, B32B 7/12, B29C 65/48 (86) International application number: PCT/US9824/150 (87) International publication number: WO 9924/977 (20.05.1999 Gazette 1999/20)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (30) Priority: 12.11.1997 US 65579 P 19.05.1998 US 81536 (71) Applicant: First Light Technology, Inc. Saco, ME 04072 (US)	(72) Inventors: PAULUS, Joseph, W. Portland, ME 04103 (US) LIGHT, Kendrick, H. Windham, ME 04062 (US) PARENT, Scott, R. Saco, ME 04072 (US) PARENT, Donald, G. Windham, ME 04062 (US) LeBLANC, Arthur, R., III Kennebunk, ME 04043 (US) RAMANATHAM, Elangovan Scarborough, ME 04074 (US) (74) Representative: Betten & Resch  Reichenbachstrasse 19 80469 München 80469 München (DE)