Abstract: The present invention provides an attitude sensing device and method for determining an attitude of a reference axis of a package containing a fiber optic sensor sensor. The attitude sensing device comprises an electro-mechanical attitude sensor for generating an electrical signal indicative of the attitude sensor, and converter logic for converting the electrical signal into a stimulus signal. A local power source is preferably provided for the electro-mechanical attitude sensor in the converter logic. The stimulus signal is such that the fiber optical sensor is responsive to the stimulus signal to cause a variation in at least one predetermined property of an optical signal transmitted through the fiber optic sensor, the attitude of the reference axis being determinable from the variation of the predetermined property.

Abstract: A method of scoring Oestrogen and Progesterone Receptors expression (ER and PR) from histological images determines the percentage of brown image blob area in total blob area and derives percentage thresholds to quantify scoring. Brown blob area proportion is then compared with the thresholds to provide a first contribution to scoring of ER or PR. The number of relatively dark pixels is then counted, pixel number thresholds are determined to quantify scoring, and the number of relatively dark pixels is compared with the thresholds to provide a second contribution scoring of ER or PR. The two contributions are then added to provide an overall scoring in the range 0 to 8 which may be taken as a final score or it may be scaled to a conventional range 0 to 3.

Abstract: This invention relates to electronic circuit packages designed to hold high frequency circuits operating particularly, but not exclusively, in the microwave, millimetre wave, and sub-millimetre wave bands. The invention provides a package incorporating a cavity in a material for containment of the circuits, wherein the package further incorporates at least one conductive surface mounted on an inner surface extending into the cavity, the conductivity thereof being adapted to be at least partially absorbent to electromagnetic radiation. The conductive surface according to the present invention will tend to attenuate electromagnetic radiation present within the cavity, and so help to prevent undesired coupling from one point to another within the cavity. The conductivity of the conductive material is preferably arranged to match the impedance of the radiation mode estimated or computed to be present within the cavity.

Abstract: A process for the production of a lithium transition metal sulphide such as lithium iron sulphide, the process comprising reacting a transition metal sulphide with lithium sulphide in a solvent comprising a molten salt or a mixture of molten salts. Lithium transition metal sulphides obtained using this process are useful in the production of electrodes, in particular for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Abstract: A system for stabilising video signals generated by a video camera which may be mounted in an unstable manner includes a digital processing means for manipulation of each incoming image that attempts to overlay features of the current image onto similar features of a previous image. A mask is used that prevents parts of the image that are likely to cause errors in the overlaying process from being used in the calculation of the required movement to be applied to the image. The mask may include areas where small movements of the image have been detected, and many also include areas where image anomalies including excess noise have been detected. The invention also discloses means for dealing with wanted movements of the camera, such as pan or zoom, and also discloses means for dealing with the edges of video signals as processed by the system. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention comprises devices for mitigating the explosive reaction of a munition when it is subject to an external thermal hazard threat. The devices are based on the use of shape memory alloys. In one arrangement there is device which consists of a connector that is at least in part formed from a shape memory alloy, which typically undergoes large dimensional changes when heated or cooled through a particular transition temperature range. The connector in this invention is designed to form a locking engagement, between two components of a munitions casing at one temperature, but when subjected to external heating through the transition temperature range will deform to allow the connector to disengage and thus release the two joined components, allowing any build up of pressure to be released quickly. Advantageously if the co-operative parts of the connector and components are threaded portions, then the locking engagement will be capable of being dismantled during normal servicing of the munition.

Abstract: The present invention relates, in one aspect to an image replication system comprising a light guide (2), a light source (8) arranged to direct emitted light into the first end (2a) of a light guide (2), a reflective spatial light modulator (6) and focussing means (16). In a preferred embodiment, the light guide (2) is in the form of an elongate glass rod having first and second parallel polygonal end faces (2a, 2b) which are parallel to the long axis of the rod, the rod having a uniform polygonal cross section along its length. The spatial light modulator (6) is optically coupled to the second end face (2b) of the light guide (2) and the focussing means (16) is arranged to receive light reflected back through the rod from the spatial light modulator (6), whereby to form multiple images of said spatial light modulator in an image plane (18).

Abstract: An adaptive signal processing system (800) comprises a plurality of receiving elements (802a–n), a plurality of analogue to digital converters (ADC's) (806a–n) and a digital signal processor (808). Each of the receiving elements (802a–n) is arranged to receive an incoming signal and has an ADC (806a–n) connected thereto. Each ADC *(806a–n) is arranged to convert a first portion of respective incoming signal into a digital form at a sampling rate less than the temporal Nyquist rate of the incoming signal. The signal processing (808) means is arranged to calculate complex weighting coefficients to be applied to a second portion of the incoming signal using the digitized first portion of the incoming signals. A method of calculating complex weighting coefficients is also described.

Abstract: A method of histological assessment of nuclear pleomorphism to identify potential cell nuclei divides image data into overlapping sub-images. It uses principal component analysis to derive monochromatic image data, followed by Otsu thresholding to produce a binary image. It removes image regions at sub-image boundaries, unsuitably small image regions and holes in relatively large image regions. It then reassembles the resulting sub-images into a single image. Perimeters (P) and areas (A) of image regions which are potential cell nuclei are determined and used in calculating nuclear shape factors P2/A. Nuclear pleomorphism is assessed as relatively low, moderate or high according to whether predetermined shape factor thresholds indicate a mean cell nucleus shape factor for an image is relatively low, moderate or high.

Abstract: A method of computing a computer generated hologram (CGH) for use in displaying a holographic image of a replay object. The method of generating a first computer generated hologram corresponding to the desired replay object (step 1); subdividing the first computer generated hologram into a plurality of blocks, each representing a sub CGH (step 2); for each block or sub CGH, calculating the corresponding replay sub-image hereafter called target wavefront data set (step 3); and generating for each target wavefront data set a second constrained modulation computer generated hologram wherein that second CGH is modulated within constrained values (step 5); and combining the plurality of second constrained modulation computer generated holograms to provide a third complete constrained modulation computer generated hologram (step 6).

Abstract: A photosensitive area 11, such as a photolithographic sheet, in an images plane is notionally subdivided in both dimensions to form contiguous (tiled) sub-areas. Variable illumination means 1,4 provides a selected pixellated light pattern, which is directed 8, 9, 10 to fill a selected one of the sub-areas so that pixels of said pattern are, at least 15 microns across at the sub-area, and control means are responsive to an input signal representative of an image conjointly to control the production and direction of the pixellated patterns so that an entire image is produced over all of the said sub-areas. As shown, the variable illumination means comprises a light source 2 with digital micro-mirror array deflector device 4, and the sub-area is selected by lens array 8 with a shutter 10 and polariser array 11. The latter may be replaced by a two-axis steering mirror and lens array.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal reflecting device comprising a cell (1) formed by two cell walls (3, 4) spaced apart by spacers (5) to contain a layer (2) of a liquid crystal material, electrode structures (6, 7) on the inner faces of the walls, and a surface alignment on one or both walls to align the liquid crystal material, a diffuse specular reflector is provided by a mirror base layer (21) formed by at least two different materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another forming a rough surface onto which a reflective layer (22) is coated. The mirror base layer (21) is formed by at least two different polymer and/or monomer materials that are at least partly immiscible relative to one another. The reflector layer (22) may be a single sheet, formed into a plurality of separate reflector elements, or patterned into electrodes.

Abstract: This invention relates to a ranging apparatus capable of ranging simultaneously to a three dimensional scene. An illumination means (22) illuminates a scene with a two dimensional array of spots (12). A detector (6) is located near to the illumination means (22) and arranged to look toward the scene. A processor (7) responds to the output from the detector (6) and, from the location of a spot in the image of the scene, determines the range to that spot. A variety of techniques are used to resolve ambiguity in determining which projected spot is being considered.

Abstract: For digital underwater transmission an information sequence (17) of digital bits is partitioned into a succession of symbols each comprising n bits where n is equal to or greater than one (2n potential symbols), each symbol (19) is replaced (20) a corresponding base code sequence of length m bits and the result (21) is passed to an acoustic transducer after bi-phase modulation (22) on a carrier. The code has good correlation properties, e.g. a pseudo-random maixmal length sequence, a Gold code or a Kasami code, and the value of m/n is at least (32). Preferably the base sequence is cyclically extended at one or both ends prior to modulation, and Solomon Reed redundancy coding (18) is initially applied to the information sequence. The output (23) of modulator (22) may be prefaced (26) by a pair of chirp waveforms (24). Provision is made for Doppler and multi-path correction.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a micro-bridge device (14, 16) onto a substrate (20). The method includes the steps of: providing a sacrificial material (32) on a surface region of the substrate (20); patternwise etching the sacrificial material (32); providing a sensing material (34) on a surface region of the sacrificial material; providing a support material (36) on a surface region of the sensing material; and removing the sacrificial material (32) leaving support material (36) with the sensing material (34) on its lower surface, substantially free standing above the substrate (20).

Abstract: An optical multiplexer and demultiplexer (mux-demux) (100) comprises a multimode waveguide (126) which communicates with first (122) and second (124) coupling waveguides. Multiplexed optical radiation comprising individual wavelength channels of appropriate wavelength introduced into the input waveguide is demultiplexed by means of modal dispersion and in-ter-modal interference with the multimode waveguide. The mux-demux consists of merely of waveguides and is therefore simple to fabricate and integrate with other components in integrated optical systems, and is capable of resolving channels having a small (˜1 nm) wavelength spacing. The mux-demux may be used without modification as a demultiplexer and remains of simple construction when scaled up to operate with many channels.

Abstract: This invention relates to a photopolymer mixture capable of use for a liquid crystal alignment layer and to an alignment layer formed from such a photopolymer mixture. The mixture comprises at least two polymerisable materials which are blended together in proportion so as to give a predetermined, preferably low, surface energy. A low surface energy, e.g. less than 4×10?2 N/m can result in an alignment layer which imparts a particular orientation to liquid crystal molecules with out requiring any post cure treatments. The polymerisable materials may be monomers, oligomers or diluents that form long chain molecules when cured and the mixture may contain additives to lower the overall surface energy.

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: An aluminum based alloy having a composition within the following ranges, all of the ranges being in weight percent: lithium 2.0 to 2.8, magnesium 0.4 to 1.0, copper 2.0 to 3.0, manganese 0.7 to 1.2, zirconium up to 0.2 and the balance aluminum, save for incidental impurities and up to 2.0 in total of one or more grain controlling elements to provide microstructural optimization and control.

Abstract: A planar metal antenna mounted on a semiconductor body and incorporating an active circuit element, for example a diode, integrated in the path of the antenna. Connection between the antenna metal and a peripheral contact is provided by a connecting link of resistive sheet material sub-divided, by voids or by inclusions of high resistive material, into a number of conductive tracks each of width and spacing of dimension small compared with the width of the antenna. The link thus exhibits an effectively high sheet resistivity at high frequency—i.e. at a frequency at or near to the frequency of antenna resonance and thus affords effective hf isolation between the antenna and the contact. At the same time, at dc and at intermediate frequency, a relatively low resistance path is afforded for bias and for extraction of IF signal. The number, width and spacing of the tracks may be varied with distance from the antenna metal to minimize the dc resistivity.