Abstract: An apparatus for determining a characteristic of a material within a region comprises a first plurality of electrodes disposed within or about the region, an energisation source arranged to apply an applied stimulation signal to at least one of said first plurality of electrodes, a stimulation monitor arranged to monitor an electrical parameter at a second plurality of said first plurality of electrodes in response to said applied stimulation signal, the stimulation monitor being configured to generate a received stimulation signal for each of said second plurality of electrodes, a monitor configured to generate a series of data values, each data value being indicative of a phase difference and/or an amplitude relationship between the applied stimulation signal and a received stimulation signal associated with one of the second plurality of electrodes, said series of data values defining an electromagnetic fingerprint, and a controller configured to: receive the electromagnetic fingerprint, identify an interr

Abstract: A master device for managing a communications link to slave devices (for example in the context of a Wireless USB cluster), wherein the master device is configured to facilitate avoidance of unnecessary waking of the slave devices.

Abstract: An aqueous, liquid fabric conditioning composition and a method for making such a composition where the composition comprises a quaternary ammonium cationic softening compound, a perfume having a ClogP of 2 or more and an oily perfume carrier for the perfume, the carrier having a ClogP of 3.5 or more where the composition comprises an emulsion in which 80% or more by weight of the droplets in the emulsion have a mean diameter of from 0.4 to 60 microns, as measured using a Malvern particle size analyser with a 45 mm lens for D[0,1] measurements and both a 45 mm and a 1000 mm lens for D[0,9] measurements.

Abstract: A fabric conditioning composition comprising a cationic fabric softening compound dispersed in water is found to have surprisingly improved viscosity stability if a stabilising system comprising at least one salt of a multivalent inorganic anion or non-sequestering multivalent organic anion is present. The invention is particularly suitable for use with quaternary ammonium material comprising a compound having two C12-18 alkyl or alkenyl groups connected to the molecule via at least one ester link. Preferably, the mixture comprises sodium chloride and sodium sulphate. Preferably, there is additionally at least one salt of a univalent anion.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid composition containing at least one active component and a diluent by mixing the active with diluent and/or liquid active to produce a liquid crystal mixture and incorporating diluent into it such that the mixture remains substantially homogeneous to produce a composition in which the concentration of active components is lower than the concentration of active components in the liquid crystal mixture. Novel apparatus for use in the process is also described.

Abstract: A process for producing a liquid composition containing at least one active component and a diluent by mixing the active with diluent and/or liquid active to produce a liquid crystal mixture and incorporating diluent into it such that the mixture remains substantially homogeneous to produce a composition in which the concentration of active components is lower than the concentration of active components in the liquid crystal mixture. Novel apparatus for use in the process is also described.

Abstract: An aqueous liquid detergent composition comprising a primary alkyl sulphate material, which is present in a non-solid dispersed phase.

Abstract: The viscosity of concentrated liquid detergents with high concentrations of surfactant and no more than 5% by weight of swelling clay, may be reduced if the concentrate comprises less than 15% by volume of suspended solid material and is formulated thus:(a) at least 15% by weight of detergent active material;(b) from 1 to 30% by weight of a slating-out electrolyte;(c) from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a viscosity reducing water soluble polymer in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity by more than 5% when measured at a shear rate of 21 S.sup.

Abstract: A structured aqueous detergent composition containing detergent-active material in the form of at least one detergent-active component and at least one electrolyte and having the following phases:(a) an isotropic aqueous solution forming a continuous phase;(b) distributed and suspended in said solution (a) discrete units of one or more non-network-forming phases, each selected from the following:(i) solid particles containing detergent-active material,(ii) lyotropic liquid crystals containing detergent-active material; and(iii) non-encapsulated liquid droplets containing detergent-active material,(c) one or more suspending phases which cause the composition to be structured so as to suspend the non-network-forming phase (b); said non-network-forming phase (b) having a higher concentration by weight of detergent-active material than said aqueous solution (a).

Abstract: The viscosity of concentrated liquid detergents with high concentrations of surfactant and no more than 5% by weight of swelling clay, may be reduced if the concentrate comprises less than 15% by volume of suspended solid material and is formulated thus:(a) at least 15% by weight of detergent active material;(b) from 1 to 30% by weight of a salting-out electrolyte;(c) from 0.1 to 20% by weight of a viscosity reducing water soluble polymer in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity by more than 5% when measured at a shear rate of 21 S.sup.

Abstract: In an aqueous liquid cleaning composition containing anionic synthetic detergent, soap, electrolyte, and particulate abrasive, with the electrolyte being other than tripolyphosphate, the ability to wet a stainless steel surface is enhanced by including 0.01 to 0.5% of polyacrylate or methacrylate having molecular weight of 500 to 3000.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to an aqueous stable thickened low-pH bleaching composition comprising(a) a thickening surfactant selected from the group consisting of amine-oxides, amines and cationic detergent actives,(b) a cold-water soluble inorganic peroxy compound,(c) a strong acid, and(d) optionally a bleach-compatible electrolyte salt.

Abstract: Detergent compositions comprising stable transparent, translucent or opaque hexagonal phase gels contain an anionic or cationic surfactant which is "secondary", i.e. its polar head group is either positioned non-terminally on a hydrophobic chain or carries two or more hydrophobic chains; optionally a further surfactant which is nonionic or non-"secondary"; a material (the "additive") capable of forcing the surfactant system into hexagonal phase; optionally builder, perfume, coloring or other adjuncts; and water. A solid such as abrasive or insoluble builder may be suspended in the gel. Preferred gels of the invention contain alkylbenzene sulphonate or dialkyl sulphosuccinate as the "secondary" surfactant and urea as the "additive". The compositions may be used inter alia for manual dishwashing.

Abstract: The invention pertains to liquid scouring compositions comprising by weight of the total composition, from 1 to 65% of a particulate abrasive material, and from 35 to 99% of an aqueous liquid suspending medium, which comprises, by weight of the medium:(a) from 3 to 15% of a synthetic anionic detergent-active material;(b) from 1 to 12% of a zwitterionic and/or alkoxylated nonionic detergent-active material;(c) a foam-regulating system comprising:1. from 0.5 to 7% of tripolyphosphate electrolyte; and2. from 0.05 to 8% of a Ca.sup.2+ -dependent foam-depressing agent;the weight ratio between component (1) and component (2) being within the range of from 1:1 to 8:1; and(d) optionally, up to 20% by weight of further electrolytes.Compositions according to the invention show good physical and chemical stability and improved foam/rinse properties.

Abstract: Detergent bars containing acyl isethionates can exhibit a feeling of drag (relatively high friction) when handled during washing. The drag can be reduced, and therefore the slip feeling of the bar improved, by adding an ethosylated sorbitan ester. Preferably the amount of ester is from about 5% to about 30% by weight of the bar.

Abstract: Detergent bars containing acyl isethionates can exhibit a feeling of drag (relatively high friction) when handled during washing. The drag can be reduced, and therefore the slip feeling of the bar improved, by adding a sucrose ester. Preferably the amount is from about 5 to about 30%.