Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of detecting a flight obstacle (28, 30, 32, 34) in the surroundings (50) of an aircraft (4), in particular for collision warning purposes, wherein images of the surroundings (50) are recorded, the flight obstacle (28, 30, 32, 34) is detected from the images and provided with an identification, and a signal (66, 68, 76) associated with the identification is outputted in a ground station (6). In order to guarantee a high level of certainty in respect to the control of the aircraft (4) which is effected automatically or by a ground control pilot it is proposed that detection and allocation of the identification are effected on board the aircraft (4) and the identification is sent to the ground station (6).

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of detecting a flight obstacle (28, 30, 32, 34) in the surroundings (50) of an aircraft (4), in particular for collision warning purposes, wherein images of the surroundings (50) are recorded, the flight obstacle (28, 30, 32, 34) is detected from the images and provided with an identification, and a signal (66, 68, 76) associated with the identification is outputted in a ground station (6). In order to guarantee a high level of certainty in respect to the control of the aircraft (4) which is effected automatically or by a ground control pilot it is proposed that detection and allocation of the identification are effected on board the aircraft (4) and the identification is sent to the ground station (6).

Abstract: An optical waveguide with one or more coatings of reactants specific to species to be analyzed in a liquid analyte immersed therein. A light signal carried by the waveguide undergoes interaction either with the bulk analyte whereby a first signal in connection with the bulk analyte is obtained and, simultaneously, with a layer of complex resulting from the reaction of one of said specific reactant with one of said species or with two or more complex layers corresponding to two or more of said species, this generating a second (or more) signal to provide the required analytical information on said species.

Abstract: The unit consists of a cuvette and light guiding means comporting more than one waveguide element in contact with the solution to be analyzed. During operation, signals issuing from said waveguide elements provide data on two or more parameters in the solution substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: Waveguide apparatus for use in substance analysis has a waveguide, with a surface area in contact with the substance, for transmitting electromagnetic radiation along the axis of the waveguide whereby propagation characteristics of the radiation are altered in accordance with properties of the substance adjacent the waveguide. A waveguide entrance prism is positioned at the radiation entrance end of the waveguide, for guiding radiation into the waveguide. The prism has a first face arranged at an angle with the waveguide axis to cause radiation entering the prism to propagate along the waveguide. In one embodiment, a longitudinal partition is arranged adjacent the waveguide substantially parallel to the waveguide axis, for partitioning the waveguide surface area into at least two parts so that multi-substance analysis can be carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus responsive to optical changes in a waveguide when the latter is contacted with an analyte capable of reacting with a specific reactant thereto attached to the surface of said guide involves, for containing the analyte, an interchangeable round bottomed cuvette temporarily held by a suitably shaped carrier in working relationship with the optical components of the apparatus, this arrangement ensuring a correct optical orientation thereof relative to said component whatever the exact positioning of the cuvette.

Abstract: A directive light beam in a wavelength range appropriate for penetrating into body tissues is applied to a portion of a patient's body and the energy transmitted or back-scattered by the underlying tissue is analyzed spectrophotometrically for the presence of glucose. Analysis is performed using especially selected bands in the near-infrared region.

Abstract: An analyte in solution is made to react with a spectific reactant coated on the wave-guide thus modifying the optical properties thereof. The index of refraction of the wave-guide material is higher than that of the reaction medium which ensures that a light signal injected into said guide be carried by multiple total reflection, the distance of penetration of the evanescent wave associated with the totally reflected signal being of the same order of magnitude or greater than the thickness of the analyte-reactant product layer.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for determining the location or position of a surface element with respect to a reference which utilizes polychromatic light and with a holographic lens on the light focuses individual wavelengths thereof to respective focal points at one of which the surface element can be located. Light reflected from this surface element is then decomposed into the respective wavelengths and the intensities of these wavelengths are analyzed to determine the wavelength of greatest intensity, this being the wavelength whose focus corresponds to the focus of the surface element. The maximum intensity wavelength is used to determine the position of this focus and hence the position of the surface element with respect to a reference.

Abstract: A layer of bioactive molecules is coated on a dielectric substrate and is contacted with a solution to be analyzed containing a complex conjugate of said molecule. The rate of complexion of said conjugate moiety with the layer which is a function of its concentration in the analyte is measured by optical means and correlated with corresponding rates obtained from standard reference measurements, thus providing data for determining the unknown concentration of said conjugate moiety in the solution to be analyzed.

Abstract: An analyte in solution is made to react with a specific reactant coated on the wave-guide thus modifying the optical properties thereof. The index of refraction of the wave-guide material is higher than that of the reaction medium which ensures that a light signal injected into said guide be carried by multiple total reflection, the distance of penetration of the evanescent wave associated with the totally reflected signal being of the same order of magnitude or greater than the thickness of the analyte-reactant product layer.