Author: claimsbot

1. Scanning microscope with a first and at least one other detection channel, whereby the first detection channel comprises at least one first detector and the other detection channel at least one other detector to detect detection light coming from a sample, characterized in that a switching mechanism is provided that selectively directs the detection light into the first andor into the other detection channel.
2. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the scanning microscope comprises a scanning device and in that the switching mechanism directs the detection light into the first or into the other detection channel, depending on the particular scanning position.
3. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that a sample can be scanned pixel by pixel with the scanning microscope, and in that the switching mechanism directs the detection light coming from adjacent pixels into different detection channels.
4. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that a sample can be scanned line by line with the scanning microscope, and in that the switching mechanism directs the detection light coming from adjacent scanned lines into different detection channels.
5. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that an adjustable beam deflector is provided, and in that the switching mechanism directs the detection light into the first or into the other detection channel, depending on the deflecting position of the beam deflector.
6. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the first detector andor the other detector comprise a photomultiplier, andor a photodiode, andor a CCD, andor an EMCCD, andor an avalanche photo diode, andor a spectrometer, andor a multiband detector.
7. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the first detector and the other detector are of different detector types.
8. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that a mechanism to generate an overview image is provided.
9. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises an optical shutter.
10. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism operates according to the principle of frustrated total reflection.
11. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism exhibits a first optical body and a second optical body, whose relative distance is adjustable.
12. Scanning microscope according to claim 11, characterized in that the first optical body exhibits an interface off of which the detection light can be totally reflected.
13. Scanning microscope according to claims 11, characterized in that the first optical body exhibits an interface off of which the detection light can be totally reflected, whereby the degree of reflection is adjustable by varying the relative distance between the first and the second optical body.
14. Scanning microscope according to claims 11, characterized in that an adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the relative distance.
15. Scanning microscope according to claim 14, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism comprises a piezoelectric element.
16. Scanning microscope according to claim 11, characterized in that the first optical body andor the second optical body are formed as prisms.
17. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises a swing mirror andor a rotating mirror.
18. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises an acoustical optical component, in particular an AOM.
19. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized in that scanning microscope is a confocal scanning microscope.
20. Scanning microscope according to claim 1, characterized by the use of sample dyes, particularly of fluorescent dyes, for lifetime measurements.
21. Method for examining a sample with a scanning microscope, characterized by the following steps:
generating an overview image of a sample;
determining at least one region within the overview image;
illuminating the sample with an illumination light;
detecting the detection light coming from the sample, whereby the detection light given off by the region is directed into a first detection channel, and at least one portion of the remaining detection light is directed into another detection channel.
22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the first detection channel comprises at least one first detector and the other detection channel comprises at least one other detector to detect detection light given off by a sample.
23. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that a switching mechanism is provided that selectively directs the detection light into the first or into the other detection channel.
24. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that a scanning device is provided, and in that the detection light is directed into the first or into the other detection channel, depending upon the particular scanning position.
25. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that a sample is scanned pixel by pixel, and in that the detection light given off by adjacent pixels is deflected into different detection channels.
26. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that a sample is scanned line by line, and in that the detection light given off by adjacent scanned lines is directed into different detection channels.
27. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that an adjustable beam deflector is provided, and in that the detection light is directed into the first or into the other detection channel, depending upon the deflection position of the deflector.
28. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the first detector andor the other detector comprise a photomultiplier, andor a photodiode, andor a CCD, andor an EMCCD, andor an avalanche photo diode.
29. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the first detector and the other detector are of different types.
30. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises an optical shutter.
31. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the switching mechanism operates according to the principle of frustrated total reflection.
32. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that the switching mechanism exhibits a first optical body and a second optical body, whose relative distance is adjustable.
33. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the first optical body exhibits an interface off of which the detection light may be totally reflected.
34. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the first optical body exhibits an interface off of which the detection light may be totally reflected, whereby the degree of reflection is adjusted by varying the relative distance between the first and the second optical body.
35. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that an adjustment mechanism is provided to adjust the relative distance.
36. Method according to claim 35, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism comprises a piezoelectric element.
37. Method according to claim 32, characterized in that the first optical body andor the second optical body is formed as a prism.
38. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises a swing mirror andor a rotating mirror.
39. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that the switching mechanism comprises an acoustical optical component, in particular an AOM.
40. Method according to claim 21, characterized by implementation with a confocal scanning microscope.
41. Method according to claim 21, characterized by the use of sample dyes, in particular fluorescent dyes, for lifetime measurements.

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 method for detecting damage to silicone implants in an object region of a human body using a computed tomography device, the method comprising:
taking at least two computed tomography recordings of the object region, each at different X-ray spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation;
reconstructing the at least two computed tomography recordings to form 3D data sets which contain X-ray attenuation values or equivalent material densities in terms of a basic material decomposition of voxels of the object region;
determining a data point in a diagram for each voxel of interest, the X-ray attenuation values for different X-ray energies being plotted against one another;
comparing the data point, or another value for each voxel of interest determined from the X-ray attenuation values, with known data points or values of body tissue and known data points or values of silicone;
determining if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by at least a first threshold value;
determining if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data point or value for silicone by less than a second threshold value; and
outputting a warning if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by the first threshold value while the data point or other value for each voxel of interest simultaneously deviates from the known data points or values for silicone by less than the second threshold value.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing plots X-ray attenuation coefficients or CT values for each voxel of interest in a diagram and compares the data points with known values.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the CT values of the different X-ray energies are mapped to a measured variable by interpolation of precalculated table values.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing includes,
determining at least one effective atomic number or an equivalent material density from the X-ray attenuation values, and
comparing each voxel of interest to known effective atomic numbers or equivalent material densities of body tissue and silicone.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein any combination of soft tissue and fat are used as comparison values for the body tissue.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein a note or warning is output if at least one of
a perpendicular distance of the data point from a connecting straight line between the known data points of soft tissue and fat exceeds the first threshold value, and
a second threshold value for the known data point for silicone is simultaneously exceeded.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein three or more computed tomography recordings of the object region are taken at different radiation spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation.
8. A computed tomography device, comprising:
a dual-energy recording unit configured to record at least two computed tomography recordings of the object region at different radiation spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation; and
a system controller including a computing unit, configured to reconstruct the computed tomography recordings to form 3D data sets which contain X-ray attenuation values or equivalent material densities in terms of a basic material decomposition of voxels of the object region and configured to:
determine a data point in a diagram for each voxel of interest, the X-ray attenuation values for different X-ray energies being plotted against one another,
compare the data point, or another value for each voxel of interest determined from the X-ray attenuation values, with known data points or values of body tissue and known data points or values of silicone,
determine if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by at least a first threshold value,
determine if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data point or value for silicone by less than a second threshold value, and
output a warning if the data point or other value for each voxel of interest deviates from the known data points or values for body tissue by the first threshold value while the data point or other value for each voxel of interest simultaneously deviates from the known data points or values for silicone by less than the second threshold value.
9. The computed tomography device of claim 8, wherein the system controller is configured to,
plot X-ray attenuation coefficients or CT values for each voxel of interest in a diagram, and
the data points are compared with known values.
10. The computed tomography device of claim 9, wherein the CT values of the different X-ray energies are mapped to a measured variable by interpolation of precalculated table values.
11. The computed tomography device of claim 8, wherein, the system controller is configured to,
determine at least one effective atomic number or an equivalent material density from the X-ray attenuation values, and
compare each voxel of interest to known effective atomic numbers or equivalent material densities of body tissue and silicone.
12. The computed tomography device of claim 8, wherein any combination of soft tissue and fat are used as comparison values for the body tissue.
13. The computed tomography device of claim 12, wherein a note or warning is output if at least one of
a perpendicular distance of the data point from a connecting straight line between the known data points of soft tissue and fat exceeds the first threshold value, and
a second threshold value for the known data point for silicone is simultaneously exceeded.
14. The computed tomography device of claim 8, wherein three or more computed tomography recordings of the object region are taken at different radiation spectra or different mono-energies of the X-ray radiation.

1. A method comprising:
receiving a digital signal at a digital input terminal of a device;
receiving an analog signal at an analog input terminal of the device, said analog signal is derived from said digital signal;
examining whether the digital signal is in an eligible format for the device;
selecting the digital signal by a selector if the digital signal is in the eligible format for a decoder to decode the digital signal,
otherwise selecting the analog signal, as an input for the device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the digital signal and the analog signal are received simultaneously.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying one of the digital signal and the analog signal on a monitor.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving one of the digital signal and the analog signal at a speaker.
5. A method comprising:
receiving a digital signal at a digital input terminal of a device;
receiving an analog signal at an analog input terminal of the device, said analog signal is derived from said digital signal;
determining whether the device is capable of decoding the digital signal;
selecting the digital signal by a selector if the device is capable of decoding the digital signal by a decoder, otherwise selecting the analog signal, as input for the device.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein
the digital signal and the analog signal are received simultaneously.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising displaying one of the digital signal and the analog signal on a monitor (126).
8. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving one of the digital signal and the analog signal at a speaker.
9. An apparatus comprising:
a first digital inputoutput terminal and a second digital inputoutput terminal;
an analog input terminal and a analog output terminal;
an interface coupled with the first digital inputoutput terminal;
a decoder coupled with the interface; and
a selector which selects the second digital input terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding a digital signal, otherwise selects the analog input terminal to receive an analog signal that is derived from the digital signal.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a monitor having a display and at least one speaker.
11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a memory.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory is configuration ROM.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the signal capability list is static.
16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein
the selector comprises
a controller having means for determining whether the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal; and
a switch controlled by the controller so as to select the first digital inputoutput terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal, otherwise to select the analog input terminal.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switch switches between an output of the decoder and the analog input terminal as a source of an input signal.
18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the digital signal format is dynamic.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein an isochronous connection is established with a device transmitting a signal upon signal selection.
20. A system comprising:
a first digital inputoutput terminal,
an analog output terminal,
a receiver coupled between an antenna and the first digital inputoutput terminal, and
a decoder coupled between the analog output terminal and the receiver;
a second digital inputoutput terminal,
an analog input terminal,
an interface coupled with the second digital inputoutput terminal,
a decoder coupled with the interface, and
a selector which selects the second digital input terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding a digital signal, otherwise selects the analog input terminal to receive an analog signal that is derived from the digital signal.
21. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver is capable of receiving signals in DSS-SD format and DSS-HD format.
22. The system of claim 20, wherein the decoder is limited to decoding DSS-SD signals.
23. The system of claim 20, further including a memory.
24. The system of claim 23, wherein the memory is configuration ROM.
25. The system of claim 23, wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.
26. The system of claim 23, wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.
27. The system of claim 26, wherein the signal capability list is static.
28. The system of claim 20, further comprising:
a monitor (126) having a display and at least one speaker.
29. The system of claim 28, further including a memory.
30. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory is configuration ROM.
31. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory is one of a RAM and a ROM.
32. The system of claim 29, wherein the memory stores a signal capability list.
33. The system of claim 32, wherein the signal capability list is static.
34. The system of claim 20, wherein the selector further comprises
a controller having means for determining whether the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal; and
a switch controlled by the controller so as to select the second digital inputoutput terminal if the decoder is capable of decoding the digital signal, otherwise to select the analog input terminal.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the switch switches between an output of the decoder and the analog input terminal as a source of an input signal.
36. The system of claim 35, wherein the digital signal format is dynamic.
37. The system of claim 34, wherein an isochronous connection is established with a device transmitting a signal upon signal selection.

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 carpet system for vehicles comprising:
a continuous carpet base molded to a shape of a vehicle floor in which the carpet system is to be installed, said carpet base including at least one layer of a molded noise-attenuating material and at least one molded recess being formed in said carpet base; and
at least one removable acoustic module which is adapted to be removably fitted into said at least one recess in said carpet base.
2. The carpet system according to claim 1 wherein said carpet base is formed from at least two layers having different material properties.
3. The carpet system according to claim 2 wherein said carpet base has at least one lower layer of noise-attenuating material, and an upper layer having an exposed upper surface.
4. The carpet system according to claim 3 wherein said noise-attenuating material from which said at least one lower layer is formed is selected from a group including a fibrous web, a Hi-Loft felt material and polyurethane foam.
5. The carpet system according to claim 3 wherein said upper layer is formed from a material selected from a group including a non-woven thermally bonded material, a non-woven mechanically bonded material, polyvinylchloride (PVC), a thermoplastic olefin (TPO), a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a tufted polyamide and a tufted polypropylene.
6. The carpet system according to claim 3 wherein said carpet base has at least one intermediate acoustic layer between said upper and lower layers of said carpet base.
7. The carpet system according to claim 6 wherein said intermediate acoustic layer is formed from one of a fibrous web, a felt material, a heavy layer of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM).
8. The carpet system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one acoustic module is formed from an upper layer having an exposed upper surface and at least one lower acoustic layer having sound-absorbing or noise-attenuating properties.
9. The carpet system according to claim 8 wherein said at least one lower acoustic layer is formed from at least one material selected from a heavy layer of EVA or EPDM, a fibrous web or felt material, PVC, TPO, TPE, polyurethane foam, polyester foam, a non-woven thermally bonded material and a non-woven mechanically bonded material.
10. The carpet system according to claim 8 wherein said upper layer of said acoustic module is formed from at least one of a group of materials selected from a tufted polyamide, a tufted polypropylene, PVC, TPO, TPE, rubber, a non-woven thermally bonded material, a non-woven mechanically bonded material, a metal, timber and a cellulose material.
11. The carpet system according to claim 8 wherein said layers of said acoustic module are retained securely together by a retainer having an upper retaining member which engages an upper surface of said upper layer and a lower retaining member which engages with a lower surface of said at least one lower layer.
12. The carpet system according to claim 1 further including retaining means for retaining said at least one acoustic module securely in position in said at least one recess in said carpet base.
13. The carpet system according to claim 12 wherein said retaining means is formed by an undercut side wall of said at least one recess and a transverse dimension of said at least one acoustic module is slightly greater than a mouth of said at least one recess so that said at least one acoustic module is securely retained by said undercut side wall when inserted into said at least one recess.
14. The carpet system according to claim 12 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one retaining member which extends through apertures in said at least one acoustic module and said carpet base.
15. The carpet system according to claim 14 wherein said retaining member has an elongate shaft, a base plate at one end of said shaft engageable with a lower surface of said carpet base and an enlarged head at an opposite end of said shaft engageable with an upper surface of said at least one acoustic module.
16. The carpet system according to claim 12 wherein said retaining means comprises at least one tab extending from said at least one acoustic module and releasably engaging an associated slot formed in a side wall of said at least one recess of said carpet base.
17. A carpet system for vehicles comprising:
a continuous carpet base molded to a shape of a vehicle floor in which the carpet system is to be installed, said carpet base including at least one layer of a molded noise-attenuating material and at least one molded recess being formed in said carpet base in each of an area a front seat foot well and a rear seat foot well; and
at least one removable acoustic module which is adapted to be removably fitted into each of said recesses.