Abstract: A detector for determining the location of a pulsed laser spot reflected from a scene, which comprises a CCD sensor for imaging the scene comprising an array of pixels arranged in rows (R1, R2, R3) and columns (C1, C2, C3), a serial read-out register arrangement (not shown), and charge transfer electrodes (Ø1H, Ø1V, Ø2) capable of transferring signal charge in at least two adjacent pixels to read-out register arrangement locations representative of the row location of at least one of the adjacent pixels and the column location of at least one other of the adjacent pixels. The charge transfer electrodes are two phase, but three or more phase arrangements are also possible.

Abstract: A locomotive consist communication system and method of communication using directional communication devices that allow each locomotive to communicate wirelessly with at least one locomotive directly attached to it. Each of the locomotives is equipped with at least one directional communication device placed on the side of the locomotive directly facing the locomotive attached to it. The locomotive consist communication system forms a communication network running through the consist that allows various locomotives to communicate with each other and share information. This directional wireless communication is resistant to multipath interference, requires less power, and is less likely to be damaged because it is situated on the side of the locomotive facing the locomotive attached to it.

Abstract: A flexible, durable, sanitary, adhesive-backed sheet is applied to the skin-contacting surfaces of a mammography bucky prior to commencing a mammography procedure, and is removed from the bucky once the procedure is complete, without leaving a residue behind. The sheet is made of a non-woven polymeric material that gives the sheet a fabric-like or cloth feel, and is substantially incompressible in response to forces applied during a mammography procedure. The sheet insulates the patient from the temperature differential between the patient's skin and the bucky surfaces. Additionally, the surface of the sheet is embossed with a texture, markings or raised features to enhance the fabric-like feel.

Abstract: A locknut comprising a metal nut including a threaded internal wall for engaging a threaded shaft; and a metal ring including an internal threaded wall defining a hole for engaging the threaded shaft. The ring comprised of a steel alloy. The threaded internal wall of the nut and the threaded internal wall of the ring being in general axial alignment when the ring is received by a bore of the nut. The ring has an elliptical configuration and is configured to distort to a circular configuration when the threaded shaft is engaged with the threaded internal wall of the nut and the threaded internal wall of the ring. The ring sized such that the stress in the ring when the ring is distorted to the generally circular configuration is less than the yield stress of the steel alloy. A thermal diffusion coating may be applied to the ring.

Abstract: A flexible, durable, sanitary, adhesive-backed sheet is applied to the skin-contacting surfaces of a mammography bucky prior to commencing a mammography procedure, and is removed from the bucky once the procedure is complete, without leaving a residue behind. The sheet is made of a non-woven polymeric material that gives the sheet a fabric-like or cloth feel, and is substantially incompressible in response to forces applied during a mammography procedure. The sheet insulates the patient from the temperature differential between the patient's skin and the bucky surfaces. Additionally, the surface of the sheet is embossed with a texture, markings or raised features to enhance the fabric-like feel.

Abstract: A CCD sensor has a shutter to prevent frame shift smear during transfer of an image from the image region to a store region. The CCD sensor has an extended dynamic range, because each integration is in two parts, the second part of which has a different sensitivity than the first part. In order to avoid an asymmetry in the uncovering and covering of the image region, a two-bladed shutter is used.

Abstract: A CCD such as a frame transfer CCD has an extended dynamic range. The image built up in the image region 1 in each integration period is transferred to the store region 2 in each frame transfer period, for example, at a TV signal rate. The dynamic range is increased by dividing the integration period into two parts, and clipping the signal in the first part, but not in the second. The signal is clipped by pulsing the clock electrodes of the image region so as to combine the charges from adjacent wells together, overspill being drained into the anti-blooming structure, consequently reducing well capacity.

Abstract: A system for time resolved spectroscopy comprises a CCD device arranged to receive a time varying spectrum. Time resolved spectroscopy is the analysis of a spectrum that varies with time due to any cause. The variation with time of the spectrum may be due, for example, to (i) changes of the spectrum from a given sample space with time (such as due to emission decay); and (ii) changes in the spectrum as successive portions of a sample space are sampled (such as laser scanning microscopy). The CCD device comprises an array of photosites arranged to detect the time varying spectrum and to produce signal charge representative of the spectrum, and one or more CCD multiplication registers arranged to receive the signal charge and to provide charge multiplication. An enhancement of speed and sensitivity is given by a storage area which receives the signal charge in parallel from the array of photosites to provide the charge in serial to the one or more multiplication registers.

Abstract: A CCD such as a frame transfer CCD has an extended dynamic range. The image built up in the image region 1 in each integration period is transferred to the store region 2 in each frame transfer period, for example, at a TV signal rate. The dynamic range is increased by dividing the integration period into two parts, and clipping the signal in the first part, but not in the second. The signal is clipped by pulsing the clock electrodes of the image region so as to combine the charges from adjacent wells together, overspill being drained into the anti-blooming structure, consequently reducing well capacity.

Abstract: A CCD sensor has a shutter to prevent frame shift smear during transfer of an image from the image region to a store region. The CCD sensor has an extended dynamic range, because each integration is in two parts, the second part of which has a different sensitivity than the first part. In order to avoid an asymmetry in the uncovering and covering of the image region, a two-bladed shutter is used.

Abstract: A waste disposal receptacle (1) including a body (20) and a lid (30). Wherein the body (20) is defined by a base (21), at least one side (22) and an open top (23); and the lid (30) is defined by at least one side (31), a top (32) and an open base and includes an aperture (35) in the at least one side (31) through which material can be deposited into the receptacle (1); Wherein the at least one side (31) of the lid (30) is adapted to be received within the body (20) and is reversibly movable between an open and closed position such that when the lid (30) is in the closed position, the aperture (35) is covered by the at least one side (22) of the body (20) and when the lid (30) is in the open position, the aperture (35) is exposed.

Abstract: A surface coating system and process and a construction surface restoration system and process are disclosed that utilize advantageous protective materials as coating and filling media. The bonding characteristics of the protective materials are such that surfaces coated with the protective materials and process possess improved and more diversified force absorption attributes. The filler material is capable of imitating pre-existing construction surfaces and possesses a substantial longevity.

Abstract: A self-contained, surface-mount guitar tremolo is disclosed. A particular embodiment includes a surface-mount base plate; a plurality of individually adjustable string fingers attached to the base plate; side plates attached to the base plate; a first pivot roller attached to the side plates; a second pivot roller attached to the side plates; a rocker attached to the second pivot roller; and a spring preload adjuster attached to the rocker, the spring preload adjuster including a plurality of springs attached at one end to the base plate and attached at a second end to the spring preload adjuster.

Abstract: A radiation sensor 10 includes an array of imaging pixels 13 electrically connectable to a readout port. At least one first peripheral row of trigger pixels 11 is located at a first edge of the array, the trigger pixels also being electrically connectable to the readout port but responding faster to x-rays than the imaging pixels. At least one second peripheral row of trigger pixels 12 may be located at a second edge of the array opposed to the first edge. Trigger pixels 11, 12 from the first and second peripheral rows may be addressable alternately in a predetermined pattern to detect a radiation signal for triggering the sensor. Various methods of clocking the sensor are also described. The sensor has particular applicability to intra-oral x-ray imaging.

Abstract: Effective sensitivity of a photodetector of an image sensor is controlled by partitioning signal charge from incident photons, thus producing a manageable yield and a consequently higher, photon shot noise limited, signal to noise ratio than in the prior art, when imaging high flux rates of energetic photons or particles, such as produced by x-ray generators. The invention may be applied, for example, to an image sensor with a photosensitive layer coupled to a charge collection/readout structure, e.g. photoconductor or scintillator on CMOS array, or to an intrinsically sensitive charge collection/readout structure, e.g. deep active layer CMOS.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing unpleasant odour by means of a first section (10) through which the input gas is constrained to travel and which treats the input gas by exposure to ozone and a second section (11) which converts into oxygen any remaining ozone in the gas stream issuing from the first section. The first and second sections are spaced apart by an interconnecting duct. The ozone is produced from air in the input gas, or alternatively the ozone is produced from air outside the input gas and introduced into the input gas in the first section.

Abstract: An energy selective radiation sensor has a photodetector and a transfer gate for controlling transfer of charge from the photodetector to a first sense node. A first readout circuit is provided for reading out charge from the first node. In use a first charge accumulated in the photodetector from a first predetermined portion of an energy spectrum of a radiation source is transferred to the first sense node. A second charge is accumulated in the photodetector from a second predetermined portion of the energy spectrum. The first charge is readout from the first sense node with the readout circuit, the second charge transferred to the first sense node and likewise readout. In embodiments of the invention, a second sense node and second transfer gate are provided and the first charge is read out through a first sense node and the second charge through the second sense node.

Abstract: A solid state imager arrangement includes an image area, an output register which receives signal charge from the image area, a separate multiplication register into which signal charge from the output register is transferred, means for obtaining signal charge multiplication by transferring the charge through a sufficiently high field in elements of the multiplication register, and an additional register into which excess signal charge is transferred.