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(11)

EP 1 481 414 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 01.12.2004 Bulletin 2004/49 (21) Application number: 02757683.4 (22) Date of filing: 09.09.2002

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01J 49/04, H01J 49/40 (86) International application number: PCT/US2002/028902 (87) International publication number: WO 2003/075306 (12.09.2003 Gazette 2003/37)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE SK TR Designated Extension States: AL LT LV MK RO SI (30) Priority: 01.03.2002 US 87541 05.03.2002 US 6685 (71) Applicant: Applera Corporation Foster City, CA 94404 (US)	(72) Inventor: HALPERN, Benjamin, R. San Jose, CA 95125 (US) (74) Representative: Vossius, Corinna et al Dr. Volker VossiusPatent- und RechtsanwaltskanzleiGeibelstrasse 6 81679 München 81679 München (DE)