Abstract: An electronic circuit assembly comprises a substrate and circuit components attached to the substrate by means of an electrically conductive adhesive, wherein the adhesive is releasable under predetermined release conditions, whereby to enable the circuit components to be removed from the substrate for recovery or re-use.

Abstract: A reference harmonic absorption curve of a laser absorption spectrometer can have a reference curve shape derived from a reference signal generated by the detector in response to light passing from the laser light source through a reference gas or gas mixture. The reference gas or gas mixture can include one or more of a target analyte and a background gas expected to be present during analysis of the target analyte. A test harmonic absorption curve having a test curve shape is compared with the reference harmonic absorption curve to detect a difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape. Operating and/or analytical parameters of the laser absorption spectrometer are adjusted to correct the test curve shape to reduce the difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape.

Abstract: A reference harmonic absorption curve of a laser absorption spectrometer can have a reference curve shape derived from a reference signal generated by the detector in response to light passing from the laser light source through a reference gas or gas mixture. The reference gas or gas mixture can include one or more of a target analyte and a background gas expected to be present during analysis of the target analyte. A test harmonic absorption curve having a test curve shape is compared with the reference harmonic absorption curve to detect a difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape. Operating and/or analytical parameters of the laser absorption spectrometer are adjusted to correct the test curve shape to reduce the difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape.

Abstract: A reference harmonic absorption curve of a laser absorption spectrometer, which can include a tunable or scannable laser light source and a detector, can have a reference curve shape and can include a first, second, or higher order harmonic signal of a reference signal generated by the detector in response to light passing from the laser light source through a reference gas or gas mixture. The reference gas or gas mixture can include one or more of a target analyte and a background gas expected to be present during analysis of the target analyte. The reference harmonic absorption curve can have been determined for the laser absorption spectrometer in a known or calibrated state. A test harmonic absorption curve having a test curve shape is compared with the reference harmonic absorption curve to detect a difference between the test curve shape and the reference curve shape.

Abstract: A displacement sensor (4) for detecting relative displacement of a shaft (1) relative to a housing (3). The sensor (4) comprises four elastomeric pads (6-9) mounted on the flexible strip (5), each elastomeric pad (6-9) having an electrical resistance which varies with force applied to the pad (6-9), and an electrical connector located within the flexible strip (5) for providing electrical connections to the elastomeric pads (6-9). In use, the sensor (4) is positioned so that the region of the strip (5) which carries the pads (6-9) is wrapped around the shaft (1).

Abstract: An electronic circuit assembly comprises a substrate and circuit components attached to the substrate by means of an electrically conductive adhesive, wherein the adhesive is releasable under predetermined release conditions, whereby to enable the circuit components to be removed from the substrate for recovery or re-use.

Abstract: A displacement sensor (4) for detecting relative displacement of a shaft (1) relative to a housing (3). The sensor (4) comprises four elastomeric pads (6-9) mounted on the flexible strip (5), each elastomeric pad (6-9) having an electrical resistance which varies with force applied to the pad (6-9), and an electrical connector located within the flexible strip (5) for providing electrical connections to the elastomeric pads (6-9). In use, the sensor (4) is positioned so that the region of the strip (5) which carries the pads (6-9) is wrapped around the shaft (1).

Abstract: A reference harmonic absorption curve of a laser absorption spectrometer, which can include a tunable or scannable laser light source and a detector, can have a reference curve shape and can include a first, second, or higher order harmonic signal of a reference signal generated by the detector in response to light passing from the laser light source through a reference gas or gas mixture. The reference gas or gas mixture can include one or more of a target analyte and a background gas expected to be present during analysis of the target analyte. The reference harmonic absorption curve can have been determined for the laser absorption spectrometer in a known or calibrated state.

Abstract: A rotary electric switch 1 comprises a base 2 having a rotary actuator 3 mounted thereon, the base 2 including a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart substrate layers 6, 7. Each layer 6, 7 has a first surface 9, 10 which faces the other substrate layer 7, 6 and a second surface 11, 12 which faces away from the other substrate layer 7, 6, the first surface 9, 10 of each layer having an electrically conducting contact 13, 14, 16 provided thereon. At least one of the substrate layers 6, 7 is deformable towards the other so as to effect an electrical connection between the contacts 13, 14, 16 on the two layers 6, 7, and the rotary actuator 3 includes a projection 21 which engages against the second surface 11 of said deformable substrate layer 6 so as to press it towards the other layer 7 in the immediate vicinity of the projection 21.

Abstract: A rotary electric switch 1 comprises a base 2 having a rotary actuator 3 mounted thereon, the base 2 including a pair of substantially parallel, spaced apart substrate layers 6, 7. Each layer 6, 7 has a first surface 9, 10 which faces the other substrate layer 7, 6 and a second surface 11, 12 which faces away from the other substrate layer 7, 6, the first surface 9, 10 of each layer having an electrically conducting contact 13, 14, 16 provided thereon. At least one of the substrate layers 6, 7 is deformable towards the other so as to effect an electrical connection between the contacts 13, 14, 16 on the two layers 6, 7, and the rotary actuator 3 includes a projection 21 which engages against the second surface 11 of said deformable substrate layer 6 so as to press it towards the other layer 7 in the immediate vicinity of the projection 21.

Abstract: A contoured circuit board 1 is manufactured via the steps of providing at least one substrate formed of thermo-plastic material, applying a thermoplastic conductive ink onto the at least one substrate to form conducting tracks 2, and then thermo-forming the at least one substrate into a contoured shape. A pair of such contoured circuit boards are then overlaid, a first contoured circuit board having conducting elements formed on an upper surface and a second contoured circuit board having a complementary shape to, being overlaid on and spaced apart from the first contoured circuit board, said second contoured circuit board having conducting elements formed on a lower surface which faces said upper surface of the first contoured circuit board, whereby pressing of one of said first and second contoured circuit boards towards the other effects contact between the conducting elements formed on the two boards so as to effect an electrical connection therebetween.

Abstract: A switch (1) comprises a elastomeric body (2) which includes a recess (3) formed therein for receiving a printed circuit board (4). The external periphery of the PCB (4) engages in an internal groove (6) so as to form a closed switch cavity (7) between the PCB an one end of the body, said one end of the body including a resiliently deformable portion (11) which is movable to bring a movable contact (13) into engagement with fixed contact (8,9) carried on the PCB (4) so as to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The body (2) includes an external groove (42) to mount the switch on a panel (40), and a seal is provided in the external groove (42) to prevent the ingress of water and the like to the recess (3) of the body (2).

Abstract: A switch 1 comprises an elastomeric body 2 which includes a recess 3 formed therein for receiving a printed circuit board 4. The external periphery of the PCB 4 engages in an internal groove 6 formed in the recess 3 so as to form a closed switch cavity 7 between the PCB and one end of the body, said one end of the body including a resiliently deformable portion 11 which is movable to bring a movable contact 13 into engagement with fixed contacts 8,9 carried on the PCB 4 so as to establish an electrical connection therebetween. The body 2 further includes an external groove 42 in its outer surface in which is engageable the outer periphery of a mounting hole 41 formed in a panel 40 in order to mount the switch on said panel 40, and a seal is provided in the external groove 42 to prevent the ingress of water and the like to the recess 3 of the body 2.