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: The present invention discloses methods of removing unwanted fluorescence from a sample by photobleaching said sample to enhance detection of proteins and fragments thereof, polynucleotides and fragments thereof, and biomolecules and fragments thereof in a sample by contacting said proteins, polynucleotides and biomolecules with a fluorescent reporter, wherein said fluorescent reported comprises a fluorescent semiconductor crystal or SCN, wherein said SCN further comprises a targeting moiety.

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 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: The invention provides certain macrocyclic triaza compounds which down-regulate CD4 expression for use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases and inflammatory diseases or conditions. In a specific embodiment, the invention provides certain naphthalene substituted triaza macrocycles which exhibit high activity for down regulation of CD4 expression. In particular, triaza macrocycles having dansyl groups are provided for use in pharmaceutical compositions.

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.

Abstract: An improved valve system is described that comprises a diaphragm (9) and a means (3,4) for transferring a fluid pressure from a head of fluid to the diaphragm. The valve system operates on the principle that the pressure associated with a head of fluid can be transferred to diaphragm and be employed to control the position of the diaphragm. Being able to control the position of the diaphragm allows the valve system to find numerous applications in an environment where action may be required in response to a rising fluid levels e.g. the control of water levels with cisterns or marine vessels, or as a portable flood barrier.

Abstract: A charge division arrangement for a CCD device for producing a divided charge output from an input charge, comprising an input for receiving an input charge, an array of elements and an output. The array of elements being arranged in rows and columns and having clock connections to allow charge in each row to be successively clocked from one row of elements to the next. At least some of the elements being arranged in a charge division unit having a first element and a second element in adjacent columns and being communicable at least temporarily so that charged introduced into the first element is divided between the first element and the second element, the charge division unit being arranged to produce divided charge for production at the output. The arrangement allows a small amount of charge to be introduced into a CCD circuit.

Abstract: A tire and a method of securing an object thereto includes a two-piece fastening system having a first portion which is applied to an innerliner of a green tire prior to the green tire being cured and a second portion which includes an object, such as a radio frequency identification chip, attached thereto. The first portion of the two-piece fastening system is attached to the innerliner of the tire with an adhesive or by curing. The green tire is then cured and the second portion of the two-piece fastening system with the object attached thereto is then attached to the first portion of the two-piece fastening system. In an alternative embodiment, the object may be sandwiched between the first and second portions of the fastening system.

Abstract: A system and associated method of marking a molded vehicle tire with laser engraved information to provide both human visible and machine readable data concerning the tire. Information contained in a barcode on the tire is read at a first station and supplied to a control unit. The physical location of human visible information previously molded into the tire is read from the tire at a second station and supplied to the control unit which uses this information to position a laser located at a third station for engaging additional human visible information pertaining to the manufacture of the tire adjacent the existing visible information to satisfy the Department of Transportation (DOT) tire marking requirements. The additional information also can be laser engraved into the tire in a machine readable encoded format, such as 2D symbols, for subsequent control and verification throughout the life of the tire.

Abstract: A method to clean the wellbore and the near wellbore formation adjacent to the wellbore of the gas bearing formation adjacent to the production zone of the wellbore. The method includes the steps of injecting a treatment liquid containing from 84.5 to 100% of liquid carbon dioxide, 0 to 15% of an alcohol, and 0 to 0.5% of a surfactant into the well in a predetermined quantity and maintaining the pressure of the treatment liquid in the near wellbore formation of the gas bearing formation below the fracturing pressure of the formation, releasing the pressure on the wellbore and allowing the liquid CO2 to vaporize and other materials to blow out of the well.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of modifying a surface characteristic (eg. wear resistance and/or corrosion resistance) of a cobalt-chromium based alloy article. The method comprises plasma treating the article at a temperature in the range of from 300 to 700° C. and at a pressure of from 100 to 1500 Pa for 1 to 50 hours in an atmosphere comprising at least one carbon-containing gas, whereby to introduce carbon into a surface region of said article. The present invention also resides in a surface-hardened cobalt-chromium based article producible by the method of the invention. The article is characterised by having a surface region comprising a supersaturated solid solution of carbon in cobalt or a surface region comprising a supersaturated solid solution of carbon in cobalt and chromium carbides. Surface hardened articles producible by the method of the invention include medical implants and engineering components.

Abstract: Aviation gasolines having an enhanced peak indicated mean effective pressure are provided by admixing with a leaded base aviation gasoline an aromatic amine of the formula NH2—Ar—(R1)n wherein R1 is selected from C1-C10 alkyl, halogen, and mixtures thereof provided that when R1 is alkyl it occupies the meta- or para-positions on the aromatic ring, Ar is a phenyl aromatic group and n is an integer from 0 to 3 to provide an aviation gasoline having a peak indicated mean effective pressure as determined by ASTM D-909 of greater than about 200 psi.

Abstract: The invention relates to redox-switchable material comprising a redox-active moiety adsorbed, bonded or both, to a semiconductor material. Among the preferred redox-active moieties disclosed herein are ferrocenes, acridines, and quinones though any such moiety may be employed. The redox-switchable material of this invention may be used to selectively remove one or more selected solutes from an aqueous solution wherein adsorption/complexation of the solute is influenced by the oxidation state of the redox-active moiety. In an alternative embodiment, inclusion moieties that are covalently bound to the redox-active moiety are employed to achieve selective complexation of the desired solute. Other possible applications of the disclosed materials are photoerasable writing media, electrochromic or photochromic materials, catalysis, and solar energy storage.

Abstract: A pressure compensated shear seal solenoid valve for use in subsea control systems is disclosed utilizing an arcuate cross section fluid passageway to improve flow rates, ease of serviceability and reduce size.

Abstract: A backpack with a compression system includes a backpack body having a top side, a bottom side, two lateral sides, a body side, an outer side and a pair of shoulder straps. Each shoulder strap has a first end connected at a junction of the top side and the body side, and a second end connected to the backpack body at a junction of the bottom side and the body side. Each strap extends along a corresponding lateral side and the bottom of the backpack body, and is slidably connected to the backpack body at a junction of the body side and a corresponding lateral side, and at a junction of the corresponding lateral side and the outer side.