Abstract: A method of measuring oestrogen or progesterone receptor (ER or PR) comprises identifying in histopathological specimen image data pixel groups indicating cell nuclei, and deriving image hue and saturation. The image is thresholded using hue and saturation and preferentially stained cells identified. ER or PR status is determined from normalised average saturation and proportion of preferentially stained cells. A method of measuring C-erb-2 comprises correlating window functions with pixel sub-groups to identify cell boundaries, computing measures of cell boundary brightness and sharpness and brightness extent around cell boundaries, and comparing the measures with comparison images associated with different values of C-erb-2. A C-erb-2 value associated with a comparison image having similar brightness-related measures is assigned. A method of measuring vascularity comprises deriving image hue and saturation, producing a segmented image by hue and saturation thresholding and identifying contiguous pixels.

Abstract: An electric drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprises: a pair of propulsion motors (74a, 74b), each with a motor shaft protruding from both ends of the motor and mounted on the same axis across the vehicle, each being coupled at the outer end to drive one of a pair of tracks or set of wheels of the skid steered vehicle; a control differential steep gear unit (72) positioned between the two propulsion motors and in driveable communication with the inner ends of the two motor shafts: and a steer motor (71) in driveable communication with the controlled differential (72), the steer motor (71) being controllable from zero speed giving straight line running in which both motor shafts are coupled to run at the same speed, to a range of speeds in both directions of rotation giving steering capability in both directions.

Abstract: This invention relates to an illumination means for illuminating a scene with a two dimensional pattern of intensity, such as an array of distinct spots or array of lines. A light source (4) such as an LED is arranged to illuminate the input face of a light guide (6), either directly or through a mask. The light guide comprises a solid or hollow tube, generally of a constant, regular cross section which is arranged to create multiple images of the light source. Projection optics (8) is arranged to project the array towards the scene with a larger depth of field than conventional techniques.

Abstract: A phase shifter device comprising a substrate defining a slot line waveguide having first and second ends and being operably coupled to a microstrip waveguide and a shorting patch is described. The microstrip waveguide and shorting patch are moveable along the slot line waveguide so as to vary the distance between the first end of the slot line and the intersection of the slot line waveguide and microstrip waveguide whilst maintaining a substantially constant separation between the microstrip waveguide and the shorting patch. A separation between the microstrip waveguide and shorting patch equal to one quarter of the effective wavelength of the radiation carried by the device is described. The device is described for use in various phased array antenna systems.

Abstract: A multi-mode interference (MMI) device, comprising a hollow core multi-mode waveguide optically coupled to at least one hollow core input waveguide, is described in which the internal surfaces of the hollow core waveguides carry a reflective coating. The coating may be a low refractive index material at the wavelength of operation, such as a metal, or a multiple layer dielectric stack. Resonators and optical amplifiers using such (MMI) devices are also described.

Abstract: A method of selectively etching a substrate (1) comprises applying etchant (4) at a surface of the substrate and illuminating an area of the surface with light from a light source (7), whereby etching is at least partially inhibited in the illuminated area (18) of the substrate. Preferably LiNbO3 is patterned in HF KOH, or HF?HNO3 solutions by selective illumination using UV laser light with 300 to 1000 mn wavelength, thereby allowing for interferometric or holographic structures to be formed.

Abstract: An imaging system (10) has a fixed lens combination (22), a spatial light modulator (SLM) (20) and a linear detector array (12). A scene image is scanned across a simple array (12) in a direction perpendicular to the array (12) by the SLM (20). This is achieved by displaying a diffraction pattern on the SLM that changes to achieve the scanning. The diffraction pattern displayed typically has a linear element (40) and a quadratic element (42). By having a programmably changed combined chirp pattern (36) displayed on the SLM, and by being able to change it thousands of times a second, an army with fast read out can take the place of a 2-D imaging array.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber sensor for traffic monitoring, which comprises a former consisting of an elongated plate, and an optical fiber wound onto at least one surface of the elongated plate. The elongated plate is flexible in a direction transverse to the at least one predetermined property of an optical signal transmitted through the optical fiber sensor. The resulting sensor has a reduced depth which makes it easier to locate within the surface of a traffic route, has increased flexibility to enable to confirm to the surface of the traffic route, and has good cross axis sensitivity rejection.

Abstract: An active semiconductor backplane for a matrix liquid crystal display comprises a plurality of mutually exclusive sets of electrically-addressable elements defining a pixel array. Scanning circuitry addresses the sets one at a time. Set selection circuitry addresses more than one of the plurality of sets simultaneously. Preferably, the sets are simultaneously addressable rows for fast blanking. Single pass and two-pass schemes for writing and re-writing the array are described.

Abstract: An optical filter (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) and first (122) and second (124) coupling waveguides which communicate with lateral sides of the multimode waveguide. The filter operates by reproducing an optical field distribution input to the multimode waveguide via one of the coupling waveguides at the position in the multimode waveguide where the other coupling waveguide communicates with the multimode waveguide. This occurs for radiation of a wavelength to be filtered but not for radiation of other wavelengths.

Abstract: A reconfigurable, three-dimensional display (1) wherein knowledge of the viewer's (4) eyes is used to enable the effective exit pupil(s) of the display system to be optimised. The system utilises this knowledge to identify contributing regions (5) within the display (1) that contribute light to the viewer (4). Priority is given to calculating and displaying the part of the display corresponding to the contributing region (5), thereby allowing the system computation requirements to be minimised. Further computation savings are achievable by recognising that only light travelling in a limited range of angles need to be considered.

Abstract: A vibration sensing device, package and system and a method of manufacturing a vibration sensing device are disclosed. The vibration sensing device comprises a body whose geometry is such that it exhibits flextensional properties.

Abstract: A method of removing oxygen from a solid metal, metal compound or semi-metal M1O by electrolysis in a fused salt of M2Y or a mixture of salts, which comprises conducting electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of oxygen rather than M2 deposition occurs at an electrode surface and that oxygen dissolves in the electrolyte M2Y and wherein, M1O is in the form of (sintered) granules or is in the form of a powder which is continuously fed into the fused salt. Also disclosed is a method of producing a metal foam comprising the steps of fabricating a foam-like metal oxide perform, removing oxygen from said foam structured metal oxide prefrom by electrolysis in a fused salt of M2Y or a mixture of salts, which comprises conducting electrolysis under conditions such that reaction of oxygen rather than M2 deposition occurs at an electrode surface. The method is advantageously applied for the production of titanium from Ti-dioxide.

Abstract: Optical sensing apparatus (10) for measuring the temperature and flow-rate of a fluid comprises a DFB fibre-laser (20) and an AO modulator (16) for modulating the power of pump radiation delivered thereto. Modulated pumping results in cyclical heating of a grating structure in the fibre-laser and hence wavelength variations in laser radiation output therefrom. The temperature and flow-rate of a fluid surrounding the fibre-laser may be inferred from the wavelength excursion and the minimum value of the wavelength respectively. The invention provides simple optical sensing apparatus capable of providing measurements of both the temperature and the flow-rate of a fluid.

Abstract: A traffic monitoring system comprises at least one sensor station (2) and an interferometric interrogation system (9); wherein the at least one sensor station (2) comprises at least one optical fiber sensor (5) deployed in a highway (1); and wherein the interferometric interrogation system (9) is adapted to respond to an optical phase shift produced in the at least one optical fiber sensor (5) due to a force applied by a vehicle passing the at least one sensor station (2).

Abstract: The invention provides a self-aligning device for aiding the engagement of a munition into a rifled gun barrel on loading of the munition, absent the use of a driving band, as, for example, in the case of a munition which is fitted with aerodynamic tail fins. The device comprises at least one annular ring to surround the munition, and which, if desired, can be seated on a surface of the munition which allows the ring(s) to rotate. One or more of the rings has a number of elements which are capable of lying within the outline of the ring or rings to allow the munition to be readily loaded into a gun barrel but which can take the form of projections extending radially outwards from the ring(s) when they become coincident with the internal rifling of the gun barrel on further movement of the munition along with barrel or when the munition is rotated. The projections then engage in the rifling grooves and provide a sealing effect.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pumping system. The design of the system is such that bi-directional operation can be achieved using a significantly smaller and hence lighter unit than those currently available. It uses the direction of rotation of the drive shaft to control the opening and closure of the by-pass means for controllably returning the fluid to the first reservoir.

Abstract: An adhesive or sealant composition comprising a compound of formula (I) provided that at least one of (a) R1 and R6 or (b) R2 and R3 or (c) R4 and R5 includes an electron withdrawing group; and where necessary, a polymerisation initiator. Novel compounds of formula (I) are also described and claimed. Adhesive compositions can be used to bond for example glass and metal surfaces. Certain biocompatible adhesives for medical applications are included.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of depositing Hg1-xCdxTe onto a substrate, in a MOVPE technique, where 0?x?1; comprising the step of reacting together a volatile organotellurium compound, and one or both of (i) a volatile organocadmium compound and (ii) mercury vapour; characterised in that the organotellurium compound is isopropylallyltelluride. The invention also relates to devices, such as infrared sensors and solar cells, that comprise Hg1-xCdxTe materials.

Abstract: A traffic monitoring system comprises at least one sensor station (2) and an interferometric interrogation system (9); wherein the at least one sensor station (2) comprises at least one optical fibre sensor (5) deployed in a highway (1); wherein the at least one optical fibre sensor (5) comprises a former (14), an optical fibre (13) wound on the former, a casing (15) and compliant material (16) provided between the casing and the former; such that the compliant material reduces the sensitivity of the sensor (5); and wherein the interferometric interrogation system (9) is adapted to respond to an optical phase shift produced in the at least one optical fibre sensor due to a force applied by a vehicle passing the at least one sensor station (2).