Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor body (1?) that can be used as part of a sensor assembly, optionally a capacitive sensor that is used to measure the clearance between the tip of a gas turbine engine blade and the surrounding casing. The sensor body includes a core layer (2) having an electrically conductive electrode layer (6). An outer insulating layer (4) substantially surrounds the core layer (2) and extends along a front part (8) of the sensor body to define a window layer (10) that provides a hermetic seal that excludes gas from any interface between the constituent layers of the sensor body. The core layer (2) and the outer insulating layer (4) are formed from the same electrically non-conducting ceramic material to avoid any problems with differential thermal expansion. The electrode layer (6) is embedded within a front part of the sensor body and extends between the core layer (2) and the window layer (10).

Abstract: The invention provides a seal (10) that forms part of a container for storing and dispensing consumer products. The container can be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets or capsules or multi-cavity containers for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen. The container includes a tray (1) having a generally planar top surface (2) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (4) for receiving the consumer products. The seal (10) includes a cover film (12) and a barrier film (20). The cover film (12) has pre-formed lines of separation (18) defining a removable portion (16) per cavity to retain the consumer products in that cavity (4) until it is removed along its line of separation.

Abstract: Lipidated glycosaminoglycan particles, prepared by reacting a glycosaminoglycan with at least one lipid to cross-link the carboxylic acid groups in the glycosaminoglycan with a primary amine in the lipid, are used to encapsulate drugs for use in the treatment of pathological conditions in an animal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor assembly. The assembly includes a sensor body 2 of appropriate construction (preferably substantially ceramic) with a radial flange 8. A housing 20 is of two-part integral construction and includes an annular groove or recess in which the radial flange 8 of the sensor body 2 is received when the sensor assembly is in its assembled form. The annular groove is defined by a pair of facing shoulders 28, 36 each having an annular surface 30, 38 and a substantially cylindrical surface 32, 40. The annular surfaces 30, 38 are in sliding contact with the flange 8 and apply a compressive load to the flange to form a hermetic seal between the housing 20 and the sensor body 2. The hermetic seal is maintained even if the sensor assembly is used at high operating temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cable terminator assembly that can be used with a transmission cable such as a coaxial or triaxial cable, for example. Such a transmission cable can have an inner conductor and an outer conductor or shield. The cable terminator assembly includes an electrically conductive inner locator body or pin that includes a passageway for receiving the inner conductor. The passageway is brazed to the inner conductor to provide an electrical connection and a hermetic seal. An electrically conductive outer body is adapted to be brazed to the outer conductor to provide an earth connection and a hermetic seal. An intermediate spacer body of electrically insulating material (e.g. ceramic) is located between the inner locator body and the outer body.

Abstract: There is provided an alphabetic character input apparatus including a data storage unit configured to store therein alphabetic character assignment information of each of keys in an alphabetic character input section and a program for inputting an alphabetic character; a key input unit configured to detect a key manipulation signal of a user to select an alphabetic character assigned to each of the keys; and a memory configured to store therein alphabetic character assignment information of a key corresponding to a key manipulation signal lately input by the user such that the alphabetic character assignment information of the key is assigned to a clone key.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cathode and a fuel cell, which are built to prevent escape of liquids, e.g. water and fuel solution, from the cell. Thus, according to a first aspect thereof, the present invention provides a cathode suitable for use in a fuel cell having a proton conducting membrane, the cathode comprising a plurality of layers including a catalyst layer and a hydrophobic porous support layer, wherein at least one of said plurality of layers is a liquid water leak-proof layer, which allows gas to pass through it and prevents passage of liquid water and/or aqueous fuel solution.

Abstract: A container is provided for storing and dispensing consumer products including pills, tablets, or capsules. A multi-cavity container is also provided for organizing and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to predefined dosage regimen. The container can comprise a tray (1) having a generally planar top surface (2) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (30) for receiving the consumer products. A sheet (10) can be adhered to top surface (2) using a peelable adhesive to seal discrete cavities (30). Sheet (10) can comprise pre-formed lines of separation (13) defining a closure portion (12) for each cavity, which retains the consumer products in that cavity until the closure portion is removed by separation along its lines of separation. Each closure portion (12) can have low vapor transmission properties created by a patch (24) having high vapor barrier properties.

Abstract: A forged card discrimination system, an authenticity determination information writing device and a forged card discrimination device which can directly utilize an existing cash card or a credit card of a magnetic recording type and is preferable to prevent abuse of a forgery card with low cost are provided. A forged card discrimination system 1 is configured to include a magnetic card read section 1a, magnetic card determination section 1b, and an authentic signal (analog signal) writing section 1c, reads all track data on the magnetic card as analog signal, and analyzes the waveform of the analog signal so as to determine authenticity of the magnetic card, in addition, when target magnetic card is an authentic card, performs writing analog signal data based on the original algorithm in a front part of writing position of STX signal and a rear part of writing position of ETX signal.

Abstract: A biological or chemical optical sensing device comprises at least one planar micro-resonator structure included in a light emitting waveguide, and at least one biological or chemical probe bound to at least a part of the micro-resonator structure, the probe operative to bind specifically and selectively to a respective target substance, whereby the specific and selective binding results in a parameter change in light emitted from the waveguide. In one embodiment, the micro-resonator is linear. In some embodiments, the sensing device is active, the waveguide including at least one photoluminescent material operative to be remotely pumped by a remote optical source, and the parameter change, which may include a spectral change or a quality-factor change, may be remotely read by an optical reader.

Abstract: A sensor (1) for capacitively measuring the distance to a stationary or passing object. The sensor has an electrode (2) that capacitively couples with the object and is formed from an electrically conductive ceramic material. The electrode is substantially surrounded by a housing (4) formed from an electrically non-conductive ceramic. The electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive ceramic materials are chosen to that they have the similar thermal expansion coefficients so that the sensor remains virtually stress free at high temperatures.

Abstract: The invention provides a container for storing and dispensing consumer products and can be used in place of conventional blister packs for the packaging of pills, tablets or capsules or multi-cavity containers for organising and storing mixed medication for subsequent dispensation according to a predefined dosage regimen. The container includes a tray (1) having a generally planar top surface (2) into which has been formed one or more discrete cavities (3) for receiving the consumer products. A sheet (10) is adhered to the top surface (2) of the tray (1) using a peelable adhesive to seal the one or more cavities (3). The sheet (10) has pre-formed tear lines (13) defining a tear off portion (12) per cavity (3) to retain the consumer products in that cavity until it is removed by tearing along its tear lines. The or each tear-off portion (12) has low vapour transmission properties created by a patch (24) with high vapour barrier properties.