Abstract: A circularly polarised array antenna (30) is disclosed. A single layer dielectric substrate (36) has a ground plane (32) located on its upper surface of the substrate and covering only part of the upper surface. A plurality of antenna elements (40-54) are also located on said upper surface of the substrate. Each antenna element has a slot element (60-74) formed in the ground plane and a respective loading element (80-94) located within each slot element. The antenna elements being arranged in a regular array where each respective slot element is sequentially rotated in space with respect to adjacent slot elements, and the loading elements generate a perturbation under excitation. A microstrip feed network (100) is located on the underside of the sub-straw to provide excitation to each slot element, and including feeds of different lengths to be electrically sequentially rotated in common with spatial rotation of the slot elements.

Abstract: A non-invasive Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) transmission line system 1 and method for measuring one or more parameters of an electromagnetic Radio Frequency (RF) pulse transmitted, and reflected, along a transmission line. The parameters including at least one of; amplitude, propagation velocity and/or propagation time between defined predetermined instances. The system 1 includes a transmission line 6 including three or more elongated transmission elements 2, 3, 4, 5, respectively having two distal ends 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b. Each element 2, 3, 4, 5 is capable of being selectively activated to transmit the RF pulse. A mounting assembly 7 is provided for mounting the transmission elements 2, 3, 4, 5 at the first end 2a, 3a, 4a, 5a to form a spatially-separated transmission element array 6 with the other ‘second’ distal end 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b of each transmission element 2,3, 4, 5 being spaced from the mounting assembly 7.

Abstract: A device that can be inserted into a sink to collect water for reuse, the device comprising a water tight body portion adapted to hold water, a drain opening to enable water to be drained from the device, closure means to enable the drain to be closed when not required, and means to hold the device generally within the sink.

Abstract: A can for packaging food, comprising a metal can body and a diaphragm lid (16) formed of lidding material which comprises a multilayer structure with at least an aluminium layer of from 6 to 90 microns thickness and a bond layer for fixing the lid (16) directly to the can body. One method for forming the can forms the lidding material by using an outwardly extending curl (20) at one end of the metal can body as the draw die. Lidding material which is carried by the body maker punch is drawn around the curl of the can body draw die so as to form the lidding material into a cup shape.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical infusion device including a dedicated processing unit for detecting abnormal operation of the operation of the device. Specifically, a watchdog controller is employed as an independent monitor of the functioning of microprocessors used in the medical infusion device for controlling things such as RF communication, insulin infusion, and system integrity. Through the use of an independently-powered watchdog control system, the accuracy and reliability of the device is enhanced, resulting in greater assurance to the patient receiving periodic or continuous infusion of a drug.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting an occlusion may include receiving a signal corresponding to a first force needed to deliver a first material through the tube. Furthermore, the systems and methods may include indicating that an occlusion exists if the first force is greater than a baseline value plus a delta value, the baseline value being assigned a value equal to the force necessary to deliver the first material through the tube in an un-occluded state and the delta value being assigned a value configured to create a desired level of sensitivity.

Abstract: The invention describes various optical waveguide layouts with reduced substrate area, with particular application to reducing bezel width in optical touch systems. In certain preferred embodiments the optical waveguide layouts include a plurality of waveguide crossings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to waveguide structures and optical elements for use in an optical touch screen sensor. The waveguide structures and optical elements allow for reduced bezel width and simplified assembly of optical touch screens sensors, and relaxed component tolerances.

Abstract: Methods for the production of integrated optical waveguides which have a patterned upper cladding with a defined opening to allow at least one side or at least one end of a light transmissive element to be air clad The at least one side or at least one end is, for preference, a lens structure unitary with the waveguide or a bend.

Abstract: A data input apparatus having at least one transmit element coupled to a source of light of a predetermined wavelength, at least one light receive element and a detection device to detect interruption of beams of the light of said predetermined wavelength extending from said transmit element to said receive element wherein at least one of said transmit element and said receive element comprises at least one waveguide having a light transmitting core and a non-core portion and one or mote discontinuance means adapted to reduce transmission of stray light within the non-core portion. The discontinuance is adapted to scatter, absorb, divert or block stray light and can be applied to one or mote of the upper cladding, lower cladding, substrate or common base.

Abstract: A biosensor for use in determining a concentration of a component in an aqueous liquid sample is provided including: an electrochemical cell having a first electrically resistive substrate having a thin layer of electrically conductive material, a second electrically resistive substrate having a thin layer of electrically conductive material, the substrates being disposed with the electrically conductive materials facing each other and being separated by a sheet including an aperture, the wall of which aperture defines a cell wall and a sample introduction aperture whereby the aqueous liquid sample may be introduced into the cell; and a measuring circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor adapted for electrical connection to a power source having an electrical contact means (3). The sensor has a first insulating substrate (1) carrying a first electrode (2) and a second insulating substrate (7) carrying a second electrode (6). The electrodes are disposed to face each other in spaced apart relationship, sandwiching a spacer (4) therebetween. A first cut-out portion extends through the first insulating substrate (1) and a spacer (4) to expose a first contact area (23) on the second insulating substrate (7). This permits the electrical contact means (31) to effect electrical connection with the first contact (23) which in turn is in electrically conductive connection with the second electrode (6). A similar contact arrangement may be disposed on the opposite side of the sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an amperometric electrochemical cell having a first insulating substrate carrying a first electrode, a second insulting substrate carrying a second electrode, said electrodes being disposed to face each other and spaced apart by less than 500 ?m, and defining a sample reservoir therebetween, and wherein at least one, and preferably both, insulating substrates and the electrode carried thereon include an electromagnetic radiation transmissive portion in registration with said reservoir. The walls of the electrochemical cell may be formed from a thin metallic portion on a transparent substrate. Such cells are useful in providing visual confirmation of the validity of the electrochemical measurement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (20) for extruding fibre cement. The extruder comprises a casing (30) with a pair of inter-meshing self-wiping screws (40) rotatably mounted therein. The screws continuously mix and or knead the components of the fibre cement provided through various feed means (61, 62) to form a substantially homogeneous paste and force the paste through a die (50) to form a green cementitious extrudate suitable for curing.

Abstract: A data storage device comprising: a photosensitive optical waveguide having a predetermined structure photosentively formed therein; a package for mounting the waveguide on; an optical interface interconnected to the waveguide and adapted to temporarily attach to optical interrogation devices for receiving optical signals for interrogation of the optical properties of the predetermined structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to a self-heating or self-cooling container (1), which uses an exothermic or endothermic re-action to provide or remove heat from the contents of the container. The chemical reaction includes a fluid consistuent (either as a reagent or solvent), held in a reservoir (6), which is added to another reagent in the reaction chamber (5) to initiate the reaction. The container (1) according to the invention proposes a means (8, 91) to control the volume of this fluid constituent added to the reaction chamber (5) depending on the ambient temperature of the container.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for analyzing the concentration of an analyte in a sample and to automatic analyzing apparatus. The invention will be described herein with particular reference to a method and apparatus for measuring the concentration of glucose or other analytes in blood but is not limited to that use.

Abstract: Integrated optical waveguides and methods for the production thereof which have a patterned upper cladding with a defined opening to allow at least one side or at least one end of a light transmissive element to be air clad. The at least one side or at least one end is, for preference, a lens structure unitary with the waveguide or a bend.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor adapted for electrical connection to a power source having an electrical contact means (3). The sensor has a first insulating substrate (1) carrying a first electrode (2) and a second insulating substrate (7) carrying a second electrode (6). The electrodes are disposed to face each other in spaced apart relationship, sandwiching a spacer (4) therebetween. A first cut-out portion extends through the first insulating substrate (1) and a spacer (4) to expose a first contact area (23) on the second insulating substrate (7). This permits the electrical contact means (31) to effect electrical connection with the first contact (23) which in turn is in electrically conductive connection with the second electrode (6). A similar contact arrangement may be disposed on the opposite side of the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a perform (1) for a holey optical fibre including thermomechanically forming the preform from a unitary body of optically suitable material (20) so that one or more discrete optical elements (30), such as air holes, are formed therein. Each element (30) has a refractive index which is different from the refractive index of the optically suitable material (20). The thermomechanical formation is preferably conducted by extrusion or by injection molding. In a preferred embodiment, the unitary body is a fluid. The method is suitable for production of a preform for a polymer holey optical fibre or an inorganic glass holey optical fibre.