1. An apparatus for information extraction from electromagnetic energy via multi-characteristic spatial geometry processing to determine three-dimensional aspects of an object from which the electromagnetic energy is proceeding, said apparatus including:
means for receiving the electromagnetic energy, the received electromagnetic energy having a plurality of spatial phase characteristics;
means for separating the plurality of spatial phase characteristics of the received electromagnetic energy;
means for identifying spatially segregated portions of each spatial phase characteristic, with each spatially segregated portion of each spatial phase characteristic corresponding to a spatially segregated portion of each of the other spatial phase characteristics in a group;
means for quantifying each segregated portion to provide a spatial phase metric of each segregated portion for providing a data map of the spatial phase metric of each separated spatial phase characteristic; and
means for processing the spatial phase metrics to determine surface contour information for each segregated portion of the data map.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for processing surface contour information for segregated portions in a relational manner with surface contour information for other of the segregated portions to determine three-dimensional aspects of the object.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for separating, the means for identifying, the means for quantifying, and the means for processing provide for characterization of material types of the object.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for separating, the means for identifying, the means for quantifying, and the means for processing provide for characterization of molecular structures of the object.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for separating, the means for identifying, the means for quantifying, and the means for processing include the use of spectral components.
6. An apparatus for information extraction from electromagnetic energy via multi-characteristic spatial geometry processing, said apparatus including:
means for receiving electromagnetic energy from an object, the received electromagnetic energy having a plurality of spatial phase characteristics, including at least one non-polarization spatial phase characteristic;
means for separating the plurality of spatial phase characteristics of the received electromagnetic energy;
means for identifying spatially segregated portions of each spatial phase characteristic, with each spatially segregated portion of each spatial phase characteristic corresponding to a spatially segregated portion of each of the other spatial phase characteristics in a group;
means for quantifying each segregated portion to provide a spatial phase metric of each segregated portion for providing a data map of the spatial phase metric of each separated spatial phase characteristic; and
means for processing the data maps of the spatial phase metrics to determine characteristics of that object, including means for determining a surface profile of the object in three dimensions.
7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for processing includes means for determining object material type.
8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for processing includes means for determining object surface orientation.
9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for processing includes means for determining orientation of the molecular structures of the object.
10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for receiving, the means for separating, the means for identifying, and the means for quantifying include provide for the use of spectral content as the non-polarization spatial phase characteristic.
11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for receiving, the means for separating, the means for identifying, and the means for quantifying include provide for the use of intensity as the non-polarization spatial phase characteristic.
12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for providing a data map includes providing the map to indicate spatial phase change.
13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the electromagnetic energy conveying insufficient characterization in the visible and infrared spectrums to permit viable intensity-only based andor frequency-only based usage.
14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said apparatus is a single view imaging apparatus for providing an image of an object as the source, and includes means for determining an imaging value associated with each group of corresponding segregated portions using the spatial phase metrics, and means for assembling a three-dimensional image representation or rendering of the object using the determined imaging values.
15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said means for assembling a three-dimensional image representation or rendering includes means for using determined values representative of slope functions of the object.
16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said means for assembling a three-dimensional image representation or rendering includes means for using determined values representative of surface shapes of the object.
17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said means for assembling a three-dimensional image representation or rendering includes means for using determined values representatives of surface contour of the object.
18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said apparatus is an imaging apparatus for providing an image of an object as the source, and includes means for determining an imaging value associated with each group of corresponding segregated portions using the spatial phase metrics and indicative of material composition of the object associated with each group of corresponding segregated portions, and means for assembling an image representation of the object indicative of material composition using the determined imaging values.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A centrifuge comprising a centrifuge lead assembly including inlet and outlet leads and a flying lead section; the flying lead section provided with a sheath within which at least a portion of the inlet and outlet leads is located and extending out from the drive rotor along the radial axis produced by rotation of the drive rotor.
2. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the sheath is provided with stiffening means operable to stiffen the flying lead section against deformation bias occurring during use thereof.
3. A centrifuge according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening means are provided in the sheath.
4. A centrifuge according to claim 2, wherein the stiffening means is provided as a sheath portion of increased thickness.
5. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the flying lead section is bent through an arc of substantially 108\xb0.
6. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet leads are embedded in the sheath.
7. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the inlet and outlet leads are twisted or braided within the flying lead section.
8. A centrifuge according to claim 1 wherein the drive rotor is mounted on a cantilevered shaft.
9. A centrifuge according to claim 8, wherein the cantilevered shaft is non-rotatable.
10. A centrifuge according to claim 8, wherein the cantilevered rotor is provided with a bore substantially along a central axis thereof.
11. A centrifuge according to claim 10, wherein the bore extends for substantially the whole length of the rotor.
12. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the drive rotor is provided with coupling means operable to couple the rotor to a drive motor.
13. A centrifuge according to claim 12, wherein the coupling means includes a toothed profile.
14. A centrifuge according to claim 1, wherein the drive rotor includes support means for supporting at least one centrifuge bobbin.
15. A centrifuge according to claim 14, wherein the support means is operable to support a bobbin in cantilevered manner on the drive rotor.
16. A centrifuge comprising a rotor; a centrifuge lead assembly including inlet and outlet leads having a flying lead section; a bobbin assembly supported on the rotor; and a support tube connected to the rotor and in which a portion of the flying leads are supported.
17. A centrifuge according to claim 16 wherein the support tube is connected to the outer surface of the rotor.
18. A centrifuge according to claim 16 wherein the tube is a stainless steel tube.
19. A centrifuge according to claim 16 wherein the support tube is formed from a pair of plates connected together, each plate having a semi-circular groove which when connected form a circular path through which the flying leads can extend.
20. A centrifuge according to claim 16 further comprising a second support structure, the second support structure connected to the inner surface of the rotor.
21. A centrifuge according to claim 20 wherein the first and second support structure are formed from a continuous tube.
22. A centrifuge according to claim 16 further comprising a third support structure, the third support structure connected to the bobbin assembly to support flying leads within the bobbin assembly.