Abstract: A light guide includes a light guide substrate having a top surface through which light is to be emitted, a bottom surface, an incident edge surface through which incident light is to be introduced into the light guide substrate, and another edge surface. The another edge surface includes at least one micro structure operative to reflect at least a portion of the incident light, which travels through the light guide substrate and is incident on the another edge surface, back within the light guide substrate.

Abstract: An illumination panel is provided, for example for use as a backlight for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display (1). The panel comprises a light source (18), for example in the form of a light emitting diode which emits light in a relatively narrow waveband. A light guide (3) receives the light from an edge surface and guides light by total internal reflection. Combined light extraction and phosphor elements (19) on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide (3) permit extraction of the light but also convert at least some of the light from the light source (18) to a different visible waveband.

Abstract: A camera flash comprises a light guide arranged to extract light at least through one surface; and one or more light sources arranged, in use, to emit light into the lightguide. Each light source is an LED or a laser diode. The camera flash is connectable, in use, to drive circuitry, the drive circuitry being for driving the light source(s) to emit a pulse of light. The waveguide spreads out the light from the light source(s), so that a flash of light from the camera flash does not present a safety risk, while minimising loss of the light from the light source(s). The camera flash can thus provide a high overall optical output, spread over an extended area (as defined by the waveguide). The lightguide may for example be disposed around a camera module of a mobile telephone camera.

Abstract: A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. Groove structures which are located on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide permit redistribution of light around obstacles that may be present within the light guide structure, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity of the backlight or illumination panel.

Abstract: A backlight is provided for illuminating an at least partially transmissive display. The backlight includes a light source. A light guide receives the light from an edge surface and guides the light by total internal reflection. Groove structures which are located on at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide permit redistribution of light around obstacles that may be present within the light guide structure, thereby maintaining brightness uniformity of the backlight or illumination panel.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a light guide is provided which includes a light guide substrate having a top surface through which light is to be emitted, a bottom surface, an incident edge surface through which incident light is to be introduced into the light guide substrate, and another edge surface. The another edge surface includes at least one micro structure operative to reflect at least a portion of the incident light, which travels through the light guide substrate and is incident on the another edge surface, back within the light guide substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a medical cryo-surgical device. Hitherto, such devices have employed the Joule-Thompson cooling effect, liquid nitrogen, or a sprayed volatile liquid. All such devices will serve the required purpose of cooling tissue to the level that will cause ice crystal formation, but all are relatively inefficient. The invention seeks to provide an improved device, an objective met by a construction comprising a primary heat extraction means (1), a secondary heat extraction means (12) associated with a part to be applied to a patient, and a coolant circuit (14) connecting the primary and secondary heat extraction means. The heat extraction means may be thermo-electric devices that can be sequentially or concurrently activated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a medical nebuliser including a container providing a sump area for a liquid drug. A rotor is located in the container, and an impacter ring encircles the rotor. The rotor is formed from two disc shaped components at least one of which is concave. The components have co-operating mating faces machined so that when they are clamped together, microscopic passageways are provided therebetween. There is a connection between the interior of the rotor and a sump to contain liquid to be nebulised. The impacter ring has an impacter face that is an inwardly facing frusto-conical surface to encourage the return of larger droplets to the sump. The frusto-conical surface has a number of ridges in the form of concentric or helical grooves over its length, whereby there is the ejection of liquid drug from within the perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, of uniform and controlled droplet size which impacts on the ridges on the impacter ring to reduce the droplet size of liquid drug.

Abstract: The invention relates to the atomization of liquids. There are many fields of application where a spray mist or jet of fine droplets is required and where control over droplet size is important. Of particular significance is the medical field and the nebulizing of a drug to be administered to a patient by the inhaled route, where the deposition of the drug and its efficacy is a direct function of the droplet size. The object of the invention is to improve the control over droplet size, an objective met by a method and a construction where liquid is centrifugally forced between the plates forming a rotor, secured together with a spacing to provide an annular orifice or held together in abutting relationship with an ability for pressurized fluid to pass between the plates, the rotation of the rotor causing the forcing of the liquid through the orifice or between the plates and such that the centrifugal force and the Bernoulli effect causes the liquid to issue in the form of droplets of a predetermined size.

Abstract: Curable compositions, suitable for use as surface coatings, comprise(i) 100 parts by weight, calculated on its resin-forming solids content, of an ammonium or amine salt of a carboxyl-containing polyester which contains, on average, at least two mercaptan groups directly attached to aliphatic carbon atoms per molecule and at least one aliphatic group of 8 or more carbon atoms,(ii) from 5 to 100 parts by weight, calculated on its resin-forming solids content, of a water-soluble aminoplast containing, per average molecule, directly attached to an amido nitrogen atom or atoms of urea or of a polyamino-1,3,5-triazine, at least two groups of formula --CH.sub.2 OR, where R denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group, and(iii) water.

Abstract: Leather is coated on at least one face with a curable composition comprisingI. a polymercaptan containing at least two mercaptan groups per average molecule,Ii. a polyene having, per average molecule, at least two ethylenic double bonds, each .beta. to an atom of nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen, the sum of the mercaptan groups in the polymercaptan and of such ethylenic double bonds in the polyene being more than 4, and the composition is then cured on the leather with or without the application of heat, optionally in the presence of a Bronsted acid, a Bronsted base, or a source of free radicals, as a curing accelerator.In this manner the leather is provided with a wearing or decorative surface having high gloss and smoothness, enhanced ease of cleaning, and decreased permeability to liquids.

Abstract: Carpets are backed with a composition comprisingI. a polymercaptan containing at least two mercatpan groups per average molecule,Ii. a polyene having, per average molecule, at least two ethylenic double bonds each .beta. to an atom of nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen, the sum of the mercaptan groups in the polymercaptan and of such ethylenic double bonds in the polyene being more than 4, and the composition is then cured on the carpet with or without the application of heat, optionally in the presence of a Bronsted acid, a Bronsted base, or a source of free radicals, as a curing accelerator. Such carpet backings cure at relatively low temperatures and so may be used in conjunction with a wide range of fibers and dyestuffs: the backings also retain their flexibility for prolonged periods.