Abstract: A working fluid for use in a heat transfer system, for example of the type used to transfer heat in a heat engine. The working fluid comprises a plurality of nano-particles suspended in a base fluid so as to improve a heat transfer property of the base fluid. Ideally the nano-particles are suspended in the base fluid in a colloidal suspension. A system for manufacturing a nano-fluid is also described. The system includes a plurality of hoppers for containing types of nano-particle and a reservoir that contains a base fluid. A control means controls valves on the hoppers and on the reservoir in order to dispense working fluid and defined amounts of nano-particles into a mixer tank. A mixer mixes the nano-particles with the base fluid to produce a nano-fluid which is in colloidal suspension in the working fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to signals representing energy of photons or particles of ionizing radiation incident on pixels of a semiconductor detector. Cross talk between the signals from different pixels is compensated using cross talk compensation signatures in the form of time domain series or functions which are aligned and applied to the cross talk signal in accordance with timing of the event which gave rise to the cross talk.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electromagnetic radiation comprises a polarizable or magnetizable medium. A polarization or magnetisation current can be generated, in a controlled manner, whose distribution pattern has an accelerated motion, so that non-spherically decaying and intense spherically decaying components of electromagnetic radiation can be generated. The coordinated motion of aggregates of charged particles can give rise to extended electric charges and currents. The charged distribution patterns can propagate with a phase speed exceeding the speed of light in vacuo and that, once created, such propagating charged patterns act as sources of electromagnetic fields in precisely the same way as any other moving sources of these fields. That the distribution patterns of these sources travel faster than light is not, of course, in any way incompatible with the requirements of special relativity.

Abstract: A method for generating electromagnetic radiation, including the steps of: providing a series of adjacent electrode pairs arranged on a common dielectric substrate, the electrodes of each electrode pair substantially aligned on opposite sides of the common dielectric substrate; energizing a first electrode pair in the series of electrode pairs at an energizing time to produce a volume polarization distribution pattern within the common dielectric substrate; energizing a next adjacent electrode pair in the series of adjacent electrode pairs at a next energizing time to produce a variation of the volume polarization distribution pattern within the common dielectric substrate, the center of the next adjacent electrode pair located a distance from the center of the previous adjacent electrode pair, wherein the next energizing time is a time interval after the previous energizing time, the time interval less than the time for light to travel the distance between the centers of the previous and the next adjacent el

Abstract: The invention relates to signals representing energy of photons or particles of ionising radiation incident on pixels of a semiconductor detector. Cross talk between the signals from different pixels is compensated using cross talk compensation signatures in the form of time domain series or functions which are aligned and applied to the cross talk signal in accordance with timing of the event which gave rise to the cross talk.

Abstract: An electron gun used in a particle beam device, for example in an electron microscope, has a relatively good brightness and may be operated under vacuum conditions which can be easily achieved (i.e., for example, at a residual pressure of about 10?6 or 10?7 mbar). The electron gun comprises an electron source having an electron emission surface. Furthermore, the electron gun comprises a first electrode configured to control a path of electrons emitted from the electron emission surface, a second electrode which is configured to suppress emissions of electrons from a side surface of the electron source and a third electrode configured to accelerate electrons emitted from the electron source to a final energy. A first voltage, a second voltage and a third voltage are adjusted to avoid any crossover of electrons emitted from the electron emission surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat-isolating cup sleeve, which comprises a main body and at least one fixer disposed on the main body and able to be folded inwards to insert between a cup and the cup sleeve. The present invention employs a die-cutting part and folds inwards the die-cutting part to form the fixer similar to a wedge, so as to increase inner tensile forces of the cup sleeve sleeving a cup so that the cup sleeve is in a tensioning state and closely attaches with the cup. Therefore, the cup sleeve is difficult to slide from the cup. When the beverage is cooled, the cup sleeve is conveniently taken down from the cup, and is simple and environmental.

Abstract: A knee scooter having pivotable handle bars, a U-shaped frame with a wide rear axle and an adjustable knee support for use by injured or disabled users. The wide rear axle of the U-shaped frame can be laterally moved to accommodate either an injury to a right or left leg. The scooter is steered by turning a pair of front wheels and hand brakes are positioned on the handle bars to manually stop the scooter as needed. The steering or turning of the front wheels is limited to about 60° rotation for safety purposes. The method of use includes securing the handle bars in an upright position, adjusting the steering column height, adjusting the knee support height and moving the rear axle laterally to accommodate supporting either a right or left leg as needed as the other leg is used to propel the scooter.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing mode scrambling in a multimode optical fibre 1 comprises an electromechanical transducer 3 and a signal generator 9. A portion of the fibre 1, which is in the form of a loop 5, is arranged with its ends 6 fixed to the transducer 3, but with the remainder of the portion being left free to vibrate. The signal generator 9 drives the transducer 3 so as to form a succession of bends of differing bend radii in the portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre, thereby “scrambling” the beam as it travels through the fibre.

Abstract: A laser system 1 comprises six solid state diode laser modules 37.1 to 37.6 whose output beams are directly coupled into beam steering devices 38.1 to 38.6 and thereby routed to laser combining dichroic mirrors 39.1 to 39.6, which combine the individual laser beams into a single, co-aligned beam. The combined laser beam is directed into an optical fiber 41.1 for delivery to a target optical instrument such as a microscope. The output beam from delivery optical fiber 41.1 is coupled to the target instrument via fiber output collimating optics 42.1. The output of each of the diode lasers 37.1 to 37.6 is controlled by direct modulation of the lasers' control (drive) currents.

Abstract: A manipulator system 10 comprises a manipulator 14 which includes two pairs of adjustment screws 18a, 18b and 19a, 19b, which can be used to displace a lens group assembly 11 relative to the longitudinal axis of the manipulator when the lens group assembly 11 is inserted within the manipulator 14. The lens group assembly 11 comprises a holder 22 in the form of a hollow, cylindrical tube that has mounted in two lenses 12, 13. The holder 22 has a throughbore through which a laser beam may be passed in use. The manipulator system 10 can be used to adjust the tilt and displacement of the holder 22 (and hence of the pair of lenses 12, 13). Such adjustment will cause a laser beam passing through the manipulator system 10 and holder 22 to have, e.g., a particular pointing direction and shape when exiting the lens group assembly 11.

Abstract: A resealable gift packaging with a concealed compartment accessible through a first opening and a second opening. The first opening is covered by a sealed openable cover. The second opening is selectively sealable by a resealable cover. A gift and message can be placed inside the resealable gift packaging to give the appearance to a person receiving the gift that the gift was purchased in the gift packaging and was not opened or accessed by the person giving the gift.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing mode scrambling in a multimode optical fibre 1 comprises an electromechanical transducer 3 and a signal generator 9. A portion of the fibre 1, which is in the form of a loop 5, is arranged with its ends 6 fixed to the transducer 3, but with the remainder of the portion being left free to vibrate. The signal generator 9 drives the transducer 3 so as to form a succession of bends of differing bend radii in the portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre, thereby “scrambling” the beam as it travels through the fibre.

Abstract: A laser system 1 comprises six solid state diode laser modules 37.1 to 37.6 whose output beams are directly coupled into beam steering devices 38.1 to 38.6 and thereby routed to laser combining dichroic mirrors 39.1 to 39.6, which combine the individual laser beams into a single, co-aligned beam. The combined laser beam is directed into an optical fibre 41.1 for delivery to a target optical instrument such as a microscope. The output beam from delivery optical fibre 41.1 is coupled to the target instrument via fibre output collimating optics 42.1. The output of each of the diode lasers 37.1 to 37.6 is controlled by direct modulation of the lasers' control (drive) currents.

Abstract: A manipulator system 10 comprises a manipulator 14 which includes two pairs of adjustment screws 18a, 18b and 19a, 19b, which can be used to displace a lens group assembly 11 relative to the longitudinal axis of the manipulator when the lens group assembly 11 is inserted within the manipulator 14. The lens group assembly 11 comprises a holder 22 in the form of a hollow, cylindrical tube that has mounted in two lenses 12, 13. The holder 22 has a throughbore through which a laser beam may be passed in use. The manipulator system 10 can be used to adjust the tilt and displacement of the holder 22 (and hence of the pair of lenses 12, 13). Such adjustment will cause a laser beam passing through the manipulator system 10 and holder 22 to have, e.g., a particular pointing direction and shape when exiting the lens group assembly 11.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprising a main body in the form of a manipulator 11 having a throughbore which removably receives a sleeve-like carrier 13 again having a throughbore. The carrier 13 receives removably an optical fibre assembly which is to be coupled to another optical component by means of the connector. The manipulator 11 also includes two pairs of adjustment screws 18a, and 19a which can be used to displace the carrier and optical fibre assembly relative to the longitudinal axis of the manipulator. A polarising element 41 is arranged in the manipulator 11 such that light passing through the connector system will pass through the polarising element 41.

Abstract: The end face of an optical fiber 11 is polished at an angle to alter the cross-sectional dimensions of a light beam exiting the fiber through that end face to alter the cross-sectional circularity of the light beam after it has exited the fiber as compared to its cross-sectional circularity when it is in the fiber. For example, to increase the circularity of an exiting light beam, the angled fiber end face can be aligned such that the major axis of the sloping fiber end face is aligned with the major cross-sectional axis of the light beam in the fiber (i.e. perpendicular to the minor cross-sectional axis of the light beam in the fiber). This has the effect of reducing the length of the major cross-sectional axis of the light beam once it has exited the fiber.

Abstract: An optical component 1 comprises a holder 2 formed as a generally elongate tubular member which, at one end, houses a lens 3 and, at the other end, houses an optical fiber 4. The optical fiber 4 is fixed within an elongate tubular ferrule 5. The optical component 1 further includes three adjustment screws 10 which can engage the front of the ferrule 5. The adjustment screws 10 can be used to adjust the radial positioning of the end of the optical fiber 4 and to tilt the ferrule 5 (and thus the fiber 4) with respect to the holder 2 about a pivot point defined by a neck 9 in the holder 2.

Abstract: An optical fibre connector comprising a hollow cylindrical body 2 having a throughbore 3 with an inner surface 4. A hollow sleeve or carrier 6 in the form of a cylindrical tube having a throughbore 8 fits snugly within the hollow body throughbore 3. The sleeve 6 can receive and releasably retain a pair of optical fibre assemblies 11 which are to be optically coupled to one another by means of the connector. The sleeve 6 accommodates a plurality of discrete individual engagement means in the form of balls 10 in holes around it circumference. The balls 10 protrude through the holes in the sleeve into the throughbore 3, and are free to rotate as an optical fibre assembly moves past them. The optical fibre assemblies 11 are biassed against the balls 10 and thereby against the inner surface of the connector body by resilient biassing means in the form of spring arrangements 14. Each spring arrangement 14 comprises an elongate resilient strip 15 pivoted about its midpoint on a pivot 20.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprising a manipulator 11 in the form a cylindrical tube having a throughbore 12 which receives a carrier 13 in the form a cylindrical tube having a throughbore 14. The carrier 13 receives an optical fiber assembly 15 which is to be coupled to another optical component by means of the connector. The manipulator 11 has two pairs of adjustment screws 18a, 18b and 19a, 19b, which can be used to displace the carrier and optical fiber assembly within the manipulator. The manipulator also includes two adjustable spring plungers 22 for applying a variable resilient biassing force to urge the carrier against the contact points of the adjustment means when it is inserted into the manipulator. The carrier 13 includes plural pads 24, which have flat, planar surfaces 25 and protruding studs 26 mounted therein. The pads are arranged in holes 27 in the carrier body such that their flat surfaces form part of the outer surface of the carrier.