Abstract: An instrument flexible guide is made of an elongated single piece of a material or alloy by stamping cutouts interposed by single narrow remaining hinge portions. The cutouts and narrow hinge portions are in different positions. The single piece is rolled into a tubular shape, with curved rings joined by the hinges. Spaced rings are bent inward as guides for flexible instruments. Seams are welded or left unwelded.

Abstract: A linearly-overlapping light measurement system “measurement head” having one or more linearly-overlapping modular light sources each having individual light sources arranged in a geometric pattern, the light sources being single- or multi-wavelength and programmable to generate light that is transmitted through and/or reflected from a work piece to be detected by linearly-overlapping modular light detectors having individual light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern. The “measurement head” also has linearly-overlapping modular light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern to receive light emitted by the light sources. A computer controller coordinating the operation of the light source array and light detector array to automatically sense and record the light transmittance and/or reflectance of one or more spectral ranges in real time from the work piece and then adjust the work being performed on the work piece to attain pre-determined standards.

Abstract: A linearly-overlapping light measurement system “measurement head” having one or more linearly-overlapping modular light sources each having individual light sources arranged in a geometric pattern, the light sources being single- or multi-wavelength and programmable to generate light that is transmitted through and/or reflected from a work piece to be detected by linearly-overlapping modular light detectors having individual light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern. The “measurement head” also has linearly-overlapping modular light detectors arranged in a geometric pattern to receive light emitted by the light sources. A computer controller coordinating the operation of the light source array and light detector array to automatically sense and record the light transmittance and/or reflectance of one or more spectral ranges in real time from the work piece and then adjust the work being performed on the work piece to attain pre-determined standards.

Abstract: A switching element, specifically an encoder element, is fabricated by forming a conductive track on an insulative substrate, and then screen printing an insulative layer on the track in a predetermined pattern that forms a contact array that comprises a plurality of conductive contacts separated by nonconductive areas. The substrate may be a polymeric resin, and the track comprises (a) a copper base layer formed on a surface of the substrate in the configuration of the track, (b) a first metal-plated layer, preferably of nickel, on the base layer, and (c) a second metal-plated layer, preferably of gold, on the first metal-plated layer. The insulative layer is formed of a thick film dielectric material comprising a difunctional monomer (e.g., diallyl isophthalate), a glycol ether ester (e.g., ethylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate), an inorganic filler (e.g., BaSO4), and an acetate surface modifier (e.g., an ethyl acrylate/ethylhexylacrylate copolymer).