Abstract: The present invention relates to consumer improved hair colouring compositions, which provide improved vibrancy and durability of vibrancy, mulitfaceted colour and complete gray coverage both immediately after dyeing and over the wash and dry cycle. In particular the invention relates to hair colouring compositions comprising specified non oxidative azo thiosulphato dyes and their utilization in combination with oxidative coupler and developer dye systems.

Abstract: Method and system for coating medical implants utilizing a pan coater to apply a coating is provided. A system for coating the implant may include a rotatable drum, a source or multiple sources of therapeutic coating, a spray nozzle for spraying the coating into the interior of the rotatable drum, a source of compressible fluid for drying the coating, a reservoir for recovery of excess therapeutic coating, and a processor. The processor in this embodiment may control the rotation of the rotatable drum, the time and volume of spray through the spray nozzle, and the time, volume and temperature of the flow of compressible fluid into the drum.

Abstract: The present invention relates to measurement of the trajectory of a motor vehicle with respect to a roadway. A trajectory measurement system for a motor vehicle (1), comprises a sensing system (20, 21) for sensing the positions of roadway edges (5), a memory (24) that stores data relating to the width, and optionally lane width, of different types of road (4) on which the vehicle (1) may travel, and a data processor means (2) linked (26, 29) to the sensing system (20, 21) and memory (24). The processor means (2) compares the sensed positions of roadway edges (5) with the road width data in order to deduce the type of road (4) on which the vehicle (1) travels, and optionally also the lane in which the vehicle travels. The system may also include a vehicle speed sensor (13, 15) linked (33, 35) to the data processor means (2).

Abstract: An adaptive cruise control (ACC) system (10) for a host vehicle (12) is provided. The ACC system (10) includes a forward-looking sensor (18) generating a range signal corresponding to a distance between the host vehicle (12) and a target vehicle. The forward-looking sensor (18) also generates a range rate signal corresponding to a rate that the distance between the host vehicle (12) and the target vehicle is changing. A controller (20) is electrically coupled to the forward-looking sensor (18). The controller (20) maintains a preset headway distance between the host vehicle (12) and the target vehicle, when the host vehicle velocity is less than about 40 KPH, by adjusting the host vehicle velocity in response to the range signal and the range rate signal. A method for performing the same is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant growing system having a plurality of interconnected and elongated members for supporting growing plants. The system is preferably integrated with an irrigation system to provide a complete hydroponics system.

Abstract: A display system comprises a substantially flat matrix display panel (10), for example an LCD, a viewing screen (12) spaced from the panel and curved in one or more directions, for example to conform with the contour of a support structure (16), and an image transfer arrangement (14) comprising at least one microlens array curved in a similar sense to the screen and disposed between the panel and the screen whose individual lens elements transmit respective portions of the image on the panel onto corresponding positions on the screen. The arrangement may comprise imaging, field and re-imaging arrays (20, 21, 22) in series with corresponding lens elements in the arrays having a common optical axis.

Abstract: A seamless marine fuel tank having directly mechanically fastened component parts such as a fuel withdrawal assembly and a direct-sight fuel gauge system. The fuel withdrawal system contains a split-nut fastening device which fastens the system to the tank and allows for 360 rotation of fuel withdrawal outlet. The direct-sight gauge contains a threaded gauge neck with a cradle and tabs in its interior wall into which a one-piece float arm is snapped.

Abstract: A laser system for laser crystallization of semiconductor films. It comprises a laser source (8) for producing a laser beam having a first intensity profile (10) in one transverse direction, and a lens system (12) for modifying the first intensity profile, the lens system comprising a plurality of lens elements (20a, 20b, 40a, 40b, 64a, 64b, 66a, 66b) adapted to divide the beam into a plurality of beamlets across the first intensity profile, at least one of the beamlets outputted by the lens system being inverted relative to the others, such that a desired intensity profile (50) is generated at the output of the laser system.

Abstract: An input protection device is provided for protecting a circuit structure which is coupled to a first node, the device comprising a first lightly-doped region of P-type material with a lightly doped well of N-type material formed in it. Two regions of heavily doped N-type and P-type material, which are electrically connected to the first node, are formed in the well of N-type material. A third heavily doped region of N type material is formed in the first lightly-doped region of P-type material and is electrically connected to a reference node. In a first aspect of this invention, the third heavily doped region of N type material is formed in a second well of N-type material, which in turn is formed in the first lightly-doped region of P-type material. In this first aspect of the invention a further region of heavily doped P-type material is formed in the second well of N-type material, this further region of heavily doped P-type material being electrically connected to the reference node.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signals and production of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from samples combines the use of hyperpolarized inert gases to enhance the NMR signals from target nuclei in a sample and a high critical temperature (Tc) superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) to detect the NMR signals. The system operates in static magnetic fields of 3 mT or less (down to 0.1 mT), and at temperatures from liquid nitrogen (77K) to room temperature. Sample size is limited only by the size of the magnetic field coils and not by the detector. The detector is a high Tc SQUID magnetometer designed so that the SQUID detector can be very close to the sample, which can be at room temperature.

Abstract: An asymmetric planar gradiometer for use in making biomagnetic measurements. The gradiometer is formed from a magnetometer which is inductively-coupled to the smaller of two connected loops patterned in a superconducting film which form a flux transformer. The magnetometer is based on a SQUID formed from a high T.sub.c superconducting material. The flux transformer and magnetometer may be formed on separate substrates, allowing the baseline to be increased relative to presently available devices.

Abstract: An image relay arrangement (20) for use with a curved CRT faceplate (11) to relay a picture to a position in front of the faceplate comprises a first, imaging, microlens array (22), a second, field, microlens array (23) and a third, re-imaging, microlens array (24) which are spaced from one another and have corresponding microlens elements (25, 26, 27). At least one of the first and third arrays is curved with its spacing from the adjacent array varying over its area related to the faceplate curvature. Through this arrangement, the picture at the curved faceplate can be imaged onto a plane where, for example, a lenticular screen is located enabling autostereoscopic displays to be produced.

Abstract: A vibratory drill head for use with a drill stand apparatus. The eccentric cams are mounted on parallel drive shafts which are powered by hydraulic motors. The hydraulic motors cause the drive shafts to spin in opposite directions. The counter-rotating eccentric cams eliminate horizontal vibration and maximize vertical vibration. The vibratory drill head is mounted to a drill shaft such as a sample tube. When the vibrating drill shaft is lowered into the soil, the vibrations allow the sample tube to pierce the soil to collect the sample. The minimization of horizontal vibration produces accurate core samples.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic display apparatus comprises means (10) for producing a display consisting of display pixels (12) in rows and columns, for example, an LC matrix display panel having a row and column array of display elements, and an array (15) of parallel lenticular elements (16) overlying the display, in which the lenticular elements are slanted with respect to the display pixel columns. The reduction in display resolution experienced in such apparatus, particularly in the case of a multi-view type display, is then shared between both horizontal and vertical resolution. Examples of full colour display apparatus using advantageous colour display pixel lay-out schemes are also described.

Abstract: An image sensor 10 includes an array of light responsive pixels 22 and an array 30 of focusing lens elements 32. Each lens element 32 is associated with a plurality of pixels 22, so that the lens elements may be fabricated simply. The array 30 is preferably part of a non-inverting focusing arrangement, and the lens elements 32 are preferably refractive microlens elements.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a high-transition-temperature superconducting device having low-magnitude low-frequency noise-characteristics in magnetic fields comprising superconducting films wherein the films have a width that is less than or equal to a critical width, w.sub.C, which depends on an ambient magnetic field. For operation in the Earth's magnetic field, the critical width is about 6 micrometers (.mu.m). When made with film widths of about 4 .mu.m an inventive high transition-temperature, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) excluded magnetic flux vortices up to a threshold ambient magnetic field of about 100 microTesla (.mu.T). SQUIDs were fabricated having several different film strip patterns. When the film strip width was kept at about 4 .mu.m, the SQUIDs exhibited essentially no increase in low-frequency noise, even when cooled in static magnetic fields of magnitude up to 100 .mu.T.

Abstract: An electrical device comprising an array of pixels has a plurality of panels 10, 20, 30, each having a respective sub-array of pixels 11. Each panel 10, 20, 30 is associated with an array 40 of lens elements 42, which may be associated with a group of one or more pixels of the sub-array. The lens elements 42 are arranged with a pitch which is greater than the pitch of the associated group of pixels, so that a diverging image is produced, enabling tiling of panels of an image sensor or of a display device.