Abstract: A magnetic sensor for discriminating between high and low coercivity magnets is disclosed. The sensor comprises a first magnetic field operable to orient high and low coercivity magnets in a first magnetic orientation. The sensor also comprises a second magnetic field, lower in strength than the first magnetic field, and operable to orient only the low coercivity magnets in a second magnetic orientation opposite to the first magnetic orientation. The sensor further comprises a sensor for ascertaining the magnetic orientation of each of the magnets and thereby identifying if a magnet is a high coercivity magnet or a low coercivity magnet.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises a plurality of input ports and a plurality of out port ports; a plurality of displaceable optical elements for directing beams from a selected input to a selected output; wherein the number of displaceable elements substantially corresponds to either the number of input ports or the number of output ports.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring the voltage of electricity supplied on a cable (121) are described. The apparatus includes a sense electrode housed in an electrically-insulative housing to form a capacitive coupling (127) between the sense electrode and the cable. The housing may be of the clamp-on type. A sense capacitor (128) of known capacitance is included, which is electrically coupled to the sense electrode and a local ground. Suitable voltage measurement circuitry (126) is connected to the sense capacitor and is responsive to voltage produced across the sense capacitor to provide an output signal representative of the voltage on the cable. The measured voltage waveform can be filtered to give the fundamental of the supply voltage, which can eliminate or reduce the effects of changes in capacitance within one cycle. A secondary capacitive (130) coupling can be formed with a related neutral wire (122) to improve stability of the voltage waveform measurement.

Abstract: An optical beam steering arrangement, comprises: a moveable optical element; actuating means for causing the movement of said element; a connecting means between said element and said actuating means for transmitting movement from said actuating means to said element; and flexure means which carry said optical element and are compliant with the displacement of said optical element.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises a plurality of input ports and a plurality of out port ports; a plurality of displaceable optical elements for directing beams from a selected input to a selected output; wherein the number of displaceable elements substantially corresponds to either the number of input ports or the number of output ports.

Abstract: An optical switch, comprises: a plurality of N input ports (2); a plurality of M output ports (24); and a plurality of displaceable beam steering arrangements (1) which, during switching, displace; N being greater or equal to 3 while M is greater or equal to 2; the plural number of displaceable arrangements substantially corresponding to either N or M; wherein said displaceable arrangements displace to and from positions of interception of substantially entire beams originating from said input ports and direct said beam on a path to said output port.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises one or more input ports for directing an optical beam into the switch; dispersive means configured to receive said optical beam and which spatially separate the optical beam into individual wavelength components which are routed to an actuator; wherein the actuator is in the form of an array of elongate movable fingers for selectively interfering with individual wavelength components and means are provided to direct optical beams to selected one or more output ports.

Abstract: An optical switch, comprises: a plurality of N input ports (2); a plurality of M output ports (24); and a plurality of displaceable beam steering arrangements (1) which, during switching, displace; N being greater or equal to 3 whilst M is greater or equal to 2; the plural number of displaceable arrangements substantially corresponding to either N or M; wherein said displaceable arrangements displace to and from positions of interception of substantially entire beams originating from said input ports and direct said beam on a path to said output port.

Abstract: An optical switching device, comprises an optical switch and an optical connector receiving means mateable with a connector., means for effectuating switching by engaging a connector in said receiving means, characterised in that said switching effectuating means acts or is acted upon once a connector is sufficiently engaged in the receiving means for optical communication with the connector to occur.

Abstract: An optical switch comprises an input array of optical elements spaced from an output array of optical elements, means to direct radiation beams and a further array of optical elements optically located between the inputs and outputs, wherein the pitch of the optical elements of said further array of optical elements is inferior to the pitch of the input and/or output array of optical elements.

Abstract: An optical connector (10) comprises at least one optical guide (12) for carrying optical radiations; a total internal reflection surface (11) upon which, in use, said radiations impinge, so that the radiation in the optical guide is reflected by said surface towards an optical element (14) of the connector and means enabling the connector (10) to interlock with any other optical connector which is appropriately matingly configured.

Abstract: A flexure arrangement, suitable for use with or as part of, e.g., an optical beam steering arrangements, and intended for supporting and transmitting movement to any appropriate element, the arrangement including a first flexure to which movement is applied, a second flexure which attaches the arrangement to any appropriate supporting structure, structure linking the first flexure to the second flexure and structure for receiving any appropriate element, the first and second flexure being appropriately spaced so that any movement applied to the first flexure is amplified by the flexure arrangement.

Abstract: An optical guide switching assembly in which steering devices are used to assembly deflect radiation from a transmitting guide to a selected receiving guide. Each of the steering devices includes a collimator for light emerging from the transmitting guide and an actuator to cause relative movement between the collimator and the guide to cause the deflection, or to move the guide and collimator together. The actuator can be piezoelectric and of either a foil type, or a monolithic type, and mechanical leverage can be used to improve deflection. Capacitive sensing means provide positional information for feedback control, preferably in a diagonal switching arrangement.

Abstract: To steer a beam in an optical switch, a collimator joined to an optical fiber along a Z-axis is mounted in a gimbal for rocking movement about X and Y axes. A piezoelectric actuator extends along the Z-axis and is symmetric about the fiber. An angular position sensor on the collimator provides feedback for use in steering the beam.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a laminate of interleaved layers of electrode plates and piezoelectric material; wherein an upper region (in use) of electrode plates is adapted when energized to effect deflections in up and down directions; a lower region of electrode plates is adapted when energized to effect deflections in up and down directions; and one or more further regions of electrode plates are adapted when energized to effect deflections in left and right directions.

Abstract: An actuator comprises a laminate of interleaved layers of electrode plates and piezoelectric material; wherein an upper region (in use) of electrode plates is adapted when energised to effect deflections in up and down directions; a lower region of electrode plates is adapted when energised to effect deflections in up and down directions; and one or more further regions of electrode plates are adapted when energised to effect deflections in left and right directions.

Abstract: A method of determining differing characteristics of magnetic dipole elements such as orientation, coercivity, bias and response amplitude and a tag reader for reading magnetic tags containing such elements. The elements are scanned by a rotating magnetic field and two sets of transition data are determined. The transition data sets are associated with respective elements and analyzed to determine mean field values resolved along the element vectors. These field values are used to determine properties of the elements, such as coercivity.

Abstract: A method of determining differing characteristics of magnetic dipole elements such as orientation, coercivity, bias and response amplitude and a tag reader for reading magnetic tags containing such elements. The elements are scanned by a rotating magnetic field and two sets of transition data are determined. The transition data sets are associated with respective elements and analyzed to determine mean field values resolved along the element vectors. These field values are used to determine properties of the elements, such as coercivity.

Abstract: To steer a beam in an optical switch, a collimator joined to an optical fibre along a Z-axis is mounted in a gimbal for rocking movement about X and Y axes. A piezoelectric actuator extends along the Z-axis and is symmetric about the fibre. An angular position sensor on the collimator provides feedback for use in steering the beam.

Abstract: An electrical current sensor and utility electricity meter, the current sensor comprising a &pgr; resistor shunt configuration, wherein the resistors comprise layered conductors at substantially equal temperatures to provide a zero temperature coefficient sensor. A fiscal electricity meter is described together with a four-layered current sensor fabricated using PCB techniques.