Abstract: A coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent is described, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises the following components: a component (i) in the form of one or more compounds selected from compounds of the formula (I), and any salts thereof: in which R1 corresponds to H, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, amine; compounds of the formula (II), and any salts thereof: in which R2 corresponds to H, alkyl, monohydroxyalkyl, dihydroxyalkyl, polyhydroxyalkyl, alkylene, alkoxy, amine; a component (ii) in the form of one or more compounds selected from the group of ammonia, amines or any salts thereof; a component (iii) in the form of one or more carbohydrates. Use of said coherent growth substrate product for growing plants and propagating seeds is also disclosed. In addition, a process for making said coherent growth substrate product is disclosed.

Abstract: Electric power transmission cables containing a first portion provided with first armouring wires having a first tensile strength, the first armouring wires being made of a first metallic material coated with a first metallic protection coating with a thickness more than 100 g/m2, the first metallic material having a first magnetic permeability ?1, a second portion provided with second armouring wires having a second tensile strength, the second armouring wires being made of a second metallic material coated with a second metallic protection coating with a thickness more than 100 g/m2, the second metallic material having a second magnetic permeability ?2, and ?2??1, the first armouring wires being longitudinally joined to the second armouring wires at a joint, the joint having a third tensile strength that is at least more than 80% of the lower tensile strength of the first tensile strength and the second tensile strength.

Abstract: Producing multilayer sheet metal strip stacks comprises feeding a metallic strip material having an upper side and a lower side by a feeding arrangement, longitudinally dividing of the fed strip material in a longitudinal direction of the strip material into a plurality of sheet metal strips in a continuous process by a strip dividing arrangement, and continuously superimposing of at least some of the sheet metal strips to form a sheet metal strip pack by a guiding arrangement.

Abstract: A plant growth system is provided, which includes: one or more plant growth substrates comprising an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block; one or more detectors arranged to monitor at least one of the water and nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device arranged to supply water and nutrients to the plant growth substrates; and control mechanism connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control mechanism in dependence on the monitored water and/or nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.

Abstract: A coherent growth substrate product formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with a cured binder composition and a wetting agent is described, wherein the binder composition prior to curing comprises the following components:—a component (i) in form of one or more carbohydrates;—a component (ii) in form of one or more compounds selected from sulfamic acid, derivatives of sulfamic acid or any salt thereof. Use of said coherent growth substrate product for growing plants and propagating seeds is also disclosed. In addition, a process for making said coherent growth substrate product is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source for a projector system, and method of operating the light source as well as a projector system that provides: i. a substantially uniform brightness across the surface of an image modulator, and ii. at each point of the surface of the image modulator a more uniform filling of the available angular space. Embodiments of the present invention use a laser light source for use with an image modulator, the light source emitting light with multiple wavelengths for at least one primary color and a light integrator system that for each of the wavelengths is adapted to provide: i. a substantially uniform brightness across the surface of the image modulator, and ii. at each point of the surface of the image modulator a more uniform filling of the available angular space.

Abstract: A DLP optical structure and corresponding method of controlling it are described including an optical integrator system having an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager, and a projection lens, said optical structure being adapted to accept a polarized light beam, said DLP optical structure comprising: at least one retarder positioned after said optical integrator for controlling the polarization state throughout said DLP optical structure, and achieving the desired polarization state after said projection lens; wherein said desired polarization state is substantially linear or circular. A DLP optical structure is also described including an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager and a projection lens, wherein the integrator is a fly-eye integrator for maintaining an input polarization of a light beam, and wherein said input polarization is linear or circular.

Abstract: A patterned retarder is described that may be used with a laser source array to obtain a combined beam suitable for laser image projection (e.g., three-dimensional laser image projection using orthogonal polarization states and/or orthogonal color spaces). An effect of the retarder on a polarization state of an incident beam may be dependent on the location of the retarder upon which the beam is incident. In one example, a method of producing a laser beam from a plurality of component laser beams includes directing the plurality of component laser beams onto corresponding regions of such a patterned retarder having a plurality of pattern elements.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source apparatus (10) for use with a projector (80) and a method for combining laser beams of different polarization characterized in that an overall efficiency for the reflection and transmission exceeding 97% is achieved. A first white laser light beam (18) having a first polarization is combined with a second white laser light beam (28) having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization by utilizing a multi narrow-band polarizing beam splitter (20) positioned to receive the first and the second white laser light beams (18, 28). Embodiments of the present invention utilize two laser light sources (12, 22) emitting two sets of laser light beams with multiple wavelengths (14, 15, 16 and 24, 25, 26).

Abstract: The invention relates to a coherent propagation growth substrate product (1) formed of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF), the product (1) having two opposed top and bottom surfaces and at least one cavity (2) which is open at the top surface and which extends from the top surface towards the bottom surface, wherein a superabsorbent polymer (3) is provided in the cavity (2).

Abstract: A plant growth system is provided in which an irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to a plant growth substrate. The plant growth substrate comprises an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block on a first surface of the MMVF slab. The MMVF slab comprises a drain hole which is disposed at one end of the surface, and the irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to the substrate at a position more than 50% of the length of the slab away from the drain hole. This improves the control of water an nutrients in the slab as a whole.

Abstract: A plant growth system is provided, which comprises: one or more plant growth substrates comprising an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block; one or more detectors arranged to monitor at least one of the water and nutrient levels of at least one of the plant growth substrates; at least one irrigation device arranged to supply water and nutrients to the plant growth substrates; and control means connected to said detectors and said at least one irrigation device. The supply of water and nutrients by the at least one irrigation device is controlled by the control means in dependence on the monitored water and/or nutrient levels. In this manner, the water and nutrient levels of the substrates can be accurately controlled.

Abstract: A man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided. The substrate has properties including a volume of 3 to 20 litres, two layers of differing density, and the use of a hydrophilic binding system. This is found to provide a substrate which allows excellent control of the water and/or nutrient contents within the substrate when used for plant growth.

Abstract: A man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided. The substrate has properties including a volume of 3 to 20 litres, two layers of differing density, and the use of an organic binder selected from formaldehyde free binders. This is found to provide a substrate which allows excellent control of the water and/or nutrient contents within the substrate when used for plant growth.

Abstract: A plant growth system is provided in which an irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to a plant growth substrate. The plant growth substrate comprises an MMVF slab and a single MMVF block on a first surface of the MMVF slab. The MMVF slab comprises a drain hole which is disposed at one end of the surface, and the irrigation device provides water and/or nutrients to the substrate at a position more than 50% of the length of the slab away from the drain hole. This improves the control of water an nutrients in the slab as a whole.

Abstract: A man-made vitreous fibre (MMVF) plant growth substrate is provided. The substrate has properties including a volume of 3 to 20 litres, two layers of differing density. The height of the two layers lie in the ranges of 25 mm to 50 mm and 50 mm to 100 mm This is found to provide a substrate which allows excellent control of the water and/or nutrient contents within the substrate when used for plant growth.

Abstract: The invention provides a multiple density growth substrate product (1) formed of a coherent matrix of man-made vitreous fibres (MMVF) bonded with binder, having an upper surface (2) provided with a recess (3) adapted to receive a seed or seedling and an opposite lower surface (4) on which the product rests when in use, the product being formed of at least two layers including an upper layer (5) positioned at the upper surface and having a first density and a lower layer (6) positioned at the opposite lower surface and having a second density, wherein the first density is less than the second density by at least 5 kg/m3 and wherein the loss on ignition (LOI) in the upper layer is at least 3.5 wt %.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light source apparatus (10) for use with a projector (80) and a method for combining laser beams of different polarization characterized in that an overall efficiency for the reflection and transmission exceeding 97% is achieved. A first white laser light beam (18) having a first polarization is combined with a second white laser light beam (28) having a second polarization that is orthogonal to the first polarization by utilizing a multi narrow-band polarizing beam splitter (20) positioned to receive the first and the second white laser light beams (18, 28). Embodiments of the present invention utilize two laser light sources (12, 22) emitting two sets of laser light beams with multiple wavelengths (14, 15, 16 and 24, 25, 26).

Abstract: A DLP optical structure and corresponding method of controlling it are described including an optical integrator system having an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager, and a projection lens, said optical structure being adapted to accept a polarized light beam, said DLP optical structure comprising: at least one retarder positioned after said optical integrator for controlling the polarization state throughout said DLP optical structure, and achieving the desired polarization state after said projection lens; wherein said desired polarization state is substantially linear or circular. A DLP optical structure is also described including an optical integrator, a relay lens system, a TIR prism assembly, a digital imager and a projection lens, wherein the integrator is a fly-eye integrator for maintaining an input polarization of a light beam, and wherein said input polarization is linear or circular.

Abstract: A patterned retarder is described that may be used with a laser source array to obtain a combined beam suitable for three-dimensional laser image projection using orthogonal polarization states and/or orthogonal color spaces.