(19)

(11)

EP 1 312 101 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 21.05.2003 Bulletin 2003/21 (21) Application number: 00932490.6 (22) Date of filing: 16.05.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01J 23/24, H01J 25/11 (86) International application number: PCT/US0013/445 (87) International publication number: WO 0108/8945 (22.11.2001 Gazette 2001/47)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE (71) Applicant: Northrop Grumman Corporation Woodland Hills, CA 91367-6675 (US)	(72) Inventor: THEISS, Alan, J. Redwood City, CA 94062 (US) (74) Representative: Winter, Brandl, Fürniss, Hübner, Röss, Kaiser, PoltePartnerschaft  Patent- und RechtsanwaltskanzleiAlois-Steinecker-Strasse 22 85354 Freising 85354 Freising (DE)