1. A multi-channel, non-reciprocal, electromagnetic wave propagation apparatus comprising:
a first ferromagnetic substrate forming a first energy propagation channel, and having a plurality of RF transmission traces on a first surface and a ground plane on a second surface, one of said traces forming an input port and a different one of said traces forming an output port;
a second ferromagnetic substrate forming a second energy propagation channel, and having a plurality of RF transmission traces on a first surface and a ground plane on a second surface, one of said traces on said second substrate forming an input port and a different one of said traces on said second substrate forming an output port; and
a magnet disposed between said first and second substrates to excite a circular, unidirectional magnetic flux field in each of the substrates that limits electromagnetic wave propagation to one direction only in each energy propagation channel.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said magnet comprises a permanent magnet.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an additional magnet disposed adjacent said substrates such that at least one of said substrates is sandwiched between said magnet and a first surface of said additional magnet.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a third substrate adjacent a second surface of said additional magnet.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
at least one via extending through said first substrate;
an electrical contact pad formed on said first surface and in electrical communication with said ground plane formed on said second surface.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:
at least one via extending through said first substrate and in electrical communication with the ground plane of said second substrate; and
an electrical contract pad disposed on said first surface of said first substrate.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of said substrates comprises a planar, disc-like shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of said RF transmission traces is coupled to a load resistor to configure the circulator to operate as an isolator.
9. A method for forming a compact, multi-channel, non-reciprocal electromagnetic wave energy propagation device, comprising:
forming a first non-reciprocal propagation channel on a first ferromagnetic substrate;
forming a second non-reciprocal propagation channel on a second ferromagnetic substrate; and
using a magnet positioned between said first and second substrates and in contact with surfaces of said substrates, to simultaneously excite circular, unidirectional magnetic flux fields in each of said substrates to facilitate electromagnetic wave energy propagation in one direction only in each of said substrates.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising securing the magnet to the surfaces of the substrates.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising using an additional magnet disposed against one of said substrates such that said first and second substrates are sandwiched between said magnet and said additional magnet.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming said first substrate with an electrically conductive via through its thickness.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising forming an electrical contact pad on a first surface of said first substrate in communication with said via.
14. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming an electrically conductive via through a thickness of said first substrate and electrically coupling said via to at least one of a RF transmission trace and a ground plane formed on said second substrate.
15. The method of claim 9, further comprising using a load coupled to one of said RF transmission traces to configure said device to operate as an isolator.
16. A method for forming a compact, multi-channel, non-reciprocal electromagnetic wave energy propagation device, comprising:
forming a first non-reciprocal propagation channel on a first ferromagnetic substrate, said first ferromagnetic substrate having a ground plane on one surface thereof;
forming a second non-reciprocal propagation channel on a second ferromagnetic substrate, said second ferromagnetic substrate having a ground plane on one surface thereof; and
securing a magnet to said ground planes such that said magnet is disposed between said first and second ferromagnetic substrates, said magnet simultaneously exciting circular, unidirectional magnetic flux fields in each of said ferromagnetic substrates to facilitate electromagnetic wave energy propagation in one direction only in each of said ferromagnetic substrates.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising using an additional magnet disposed against one of said substrates such that said first and second substrates are sandwiched between said magnet and said additional magnet.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising forming at least one of said ferromagnetic substrates with an electrically conductive via through its thickness.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising forming an electrical contact pad on said surface of one of said ferromagnetic substrates such that said contact pad is in communication with said via.
20. A phased array antenna comprising:
signal generating electronics;
a plurality of antenna elements; and
a circulator interposed between the signal generating electronics and the antenna elements, the circulator including:
a first ferrite substrate having an input and an output;
a second ferrite substrate having an input and an output; and
a magnet disposed between the first and second ferrite substrates to generate a flux field within the substrates, the flux field enabling electromagnetic wave signals to flow in one direction only between the input and output on each ferrite substrate.
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 contamination monitoring device for monitoring contamination potential associated with a user, the device comprising: attachment means for holding the device in proximity of the user; a sensor being operable to detect the presence of a washing action and output a signal indicative thereof; and an indicator being operable to receive signals output by the sensor and output an indication in response thereto.
2. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises any of the following either alone or in combination: a vapour sensor, a temperature sensor, an imagevideo sensor and an audio sensor.
3. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal is variable in response to the duration of the washing action detected by an imagevideo or audio sensor; the temperature of water utilised in the washing action detected by a temperature sensor;
or the volume, concentration, rate of change of concentration andor duration of a vapour component detected by a vapour sensor.
4. A contamination monitoring device for monitoring contamination potential associated with a user, the device comprising; attachment means for holding the device in proximity of the user; a sensor being operable to detect the presence of a vapour component and output a signal indicative thereof; and an indicator being operable to receive signals output by the sensor and output an indication in response thereto.
5. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is an electrical or chemical signal.
6. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 5, wherein there is an electrical pathway between the sensor and the indicator.
7. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electrical pathway comprises a direct or indirect electrical contact between the sensor and the indicator.
8. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor and the indicator are in communication by means of a wired or wireless link.
9. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in any claim 4, wherein the sensor outputs a signal only after a certain threshold level of the vapour component has been detected.
10. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the threshold level is based on the concentration or volume of alcohol vapour present in a given volume of air, or the duration of detection of alcohol vapour by the sensor, or a combination thereof.
11. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is located on an outwardly facing section of the contamination monitoring device.
12. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the vapour component detectable by the sensor evaporates at room temperature and pressure.
13. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the vapour component comprises an alcohol, an ether, a perfume or additive of a sanitising composition, or any combination thereof.
14. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indication displayed by the indicator takes the form of a colour, pattern, symbol, or any combination thereof.
15. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is operable to output an audio indication.
16. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator is located on an outwardly facing section of the contamination monitoring device.
17. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a processing unit.
18. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processing unit is provided in a separate package to the device, the separate package being in communication with the device by a wired or wireless link,
19. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processing unit is operable to receive a signal from the sensor and to classify the contamination potential based thereon according to a classification scheme, the classification scheme comprising a number of levels of contamination potential.
20. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the classification scheme comprises a number of levels of classification, such that the classification of the contamination potential varies from one level to another in response to the detection of varying levels of the vapour component by the sensor.
21. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the processing unit comprises a timer means and classification unit.
22. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the classification unit is operable to classify the contamination potential according to the classification scheme and output a signal indicative thereof.
23. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the timer means is operable to monitor the time elapsed since a detection of the vapour component by the sensor and output a signal indicative thereof.
24. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the contamination potential associated with a user is adjustable from one level of contamination potential to another.
25. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device takes the form of a badge affixable to the clothing of the user.
26. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a reset switch andor means for receiving a reset signal.
27. A contamination monitoring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is powered by battery andor energy scavenging means.
28. A sanitising composition suitable for use with a contamination monitoring device according to claim 1, the sanitising composition comprising a characteristic vapour component detectable by a sensor.
29. A sanitising composition as claimed in claim 28, wherein characteristic vapour component comprises an alcohol, an ether, or a perfume.
30. A sanitising composition as claimed in claim 28, wherein the characteristic vapour component is specific to the sensor.
31. A sanitising composition as claimed in claim 28, wherein the composition is in the form of a solid, liquid or gel.
32. A sanitising composition as claimed in claim 28, wherein the composition further comprises one or more additional components selected from the group consisting of moisturisers, sanitisers, antibacterial and antimicrobial agents, colourings and fragrances.
33. A method of monitoring the contamination potential associated with a user, the method comprising the steps of: issuing the user with a device according to claim 1, noting an output change in the indicator displaying the level of contamination potential associated with the user.
34. (canceled)