Abstract: A hair styling appliance (20) comprising a pair of clamping members (24) for clamping hair to be styled, wherein at least one of said clamping members comprises: a hair heating plate (26); and means (22) for manipulating a user's roots spaced apart from the hair heating plate whereby, in use, the means for manipulating a user's root is brought into contact a user's roots and the hair heating plate is spaced apart from a user's head.

Abstract: An inductive position encoder is described having first and second members which are relatively moveable over a measurement path, a magnetic device mounted on the first member; a plurality of first windings mounted on the second member; and a second winding. The magnetic device is operable to interact with the windings such that upon the energization of either the second winding or the first windings, there is generated a plurality of sensor signals each being associated with a respective one of said first windings and varying with the relative position between said magnetic device and the associated first winding and hence with the relative position between said first and second members. Additionally, the plurality of first windings are arranged along said measurement path so that the sensor signals vary substantially in accordance with a predetermined Gray code.

Abstract: An aqueous conditioning composition comprising: (i) a water-insoluble, non-ester, quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning agent having at least 2 alkyl and/or alkenyl groups of at least 12 carbon atoms, or an alkyl or alkenyl group having a chain length of at least 20 carbon atoms. (ii) a water-soluble quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant and (iii) perfume, at least a portion of which is encapsulated. The composition is made by a specific process which comprises adding the encapsulated perfume to water prior to the addition of the water-insoluble quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning agent and adding the water-soluble quaternary ammonium cationic surfactant after the addition of the water-insoluble quaternary ammonium fabric conditioning agent and any free perfume and at a temperature below the phase transition temperature of the composition.

Abstract: An inductive position encoder is described having first and second members which are relatively moveable over a measurement path, a magnetic device mounted on the first member; a plurality of first windings mounted on the second member; and a second winding. The magnetic device is operable to interact with the windings such that upon the energisation of either the second winding or the first windings, there is generated a plurality of sensor signals each being associated with a respective one of said first windings and varying with the relative position between said magnetic device and the associated first winding and hence with the relative position between said first and second members. Additionally, the plurality of first windings are arranged along said measurement path so that the sensor signals vary substantially in accordance with a predetermined Gray code.

Abstract: A user interface includes a display for displaying of a plurality of sensor data sets representative of signals associated with a plurality of sensors configured for sensing of a subsurface. At least some of the sensors are configured for subsurface sensing in a manner differing from other sensors of the plurality of sensors. Each of the sensor data sets comprises sensor data samples each associated with geographic position data. The sensor data sets are shown overlaid within a volume depicted on the display. The graphical representations of the sensor data sets are individually viewable within the volume and displayed in geographical alignment relative to one another within the volume in accordance with the geographic position data of the sensor data samples of each of the sensor data sets.

Abstract: A magnetoinductive flowmeter incorporates an electromagnetic circuit with at least one coil and a minimum of two detachably interconnected components of a magnetic material. One of the components features a resiliently deformable spring section that presses against the other component. The result is an easy-to-assemble magnetoinductive flowmeter that can be manufactured with substantial production tolerances.

Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal induced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.

Abstract: There is described a position sensor comprising at least one planar substrate having formed thereon a magnetic field generator which comprises conductive tracks formed on at least two planes defined by the at least one planar substrate. An intermediate coupling element is operable to move relative to the at least one planar substrate along a measurement direction transverse to the planar substrate, the detector detects the position of the intermediate coupling element in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator. The position sensor has particular application in man-machine interfaces such as push buttons and rotary switches.

Abstract: There is described a sensor comprising an excitation winding, a signal generator operable to generate an excitation signal and arranged to apply the generated excitation signal to the excitation winding, a sensor winding electromagnetically coupled to the excitation winding and a signal processor operable to process a periodic electric signal generated in the sensor winding when the excitation signal is applied to the excitation winding by the signal generator to determine a value of a sensed parameter. The excitation signal comprises a periodic carrier signal having a first frequency modulated by a periodic modulation signal having a second frequency, the first frequency being greater than the second frequency. In this way, the sensor is well suited to using digital processing techniques both to generate the excitation signal and to process the signal inducced in the sensor windings. In an embodiment, the sensor is used to detect the relative position of two members.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of the surface of a cavity is reconstructed. The cavity can be the outer ear canal of a person. A probe with an optical sensor is introduced into the cavity to produce video signals, which are transmitted to a computer device. The computer device transforms the video signals into position data representing the surface of the cavity, thereby defining the three-dimensional structure of the cavity.

Abstract: The three-dimensional structure of the surface of a cavity is reconstructed. The cavity can be the outer ear canal of a person. A probe with an optical sensor is introduced into the cavity to produce video signals, which are transmitted to a computer device. The computer device transforms the video signals into position data representing the surface of the cavity, thereby defining the three-dimensional structure of the cavity.