Author: claimsbot

1. A method for producing a housing for a medical implant having a hollow housing (12) and a terminal body (14) attached therein, which comprises an electrically insulating plastic comprising:
arranging electrical supply lines and an antenna as flat lines respectively that lie in one plane;
fixing electrical supply lines,
electrical contacts, and
an antenna in an injection mold;

embedding or partially extrusion coating in a first injection procedure,
said electrical contacts,
said electrical supply lines and
said antenna to form a molded part;

fixing said molded part in said injection mold; and,
embedding completely in a second injection procedure,
said electrical supply lines,
said electrical contacts and
said antenna to obtain a final form of a terminal body.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
joining said electrical contacts to said electrical supply lines using a weld.
3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising fixing said electrical supply lines, said electrical contacts, and said antenna in said injection mold using a retainer (48).
4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising:
removing said retainer (48); and,
filling up hollow spaces resulting when said retainer (48) is removed.
5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:
pre-mounting one or more of said electrical contacts using one or more clamping screws; and,
injecting on or extrusion coating a cover and sealing a screw contact to an outside portion of said cover.
6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising using a different plastic for said second injection procedure than for said first injection procedure.
7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising producing said electrical supply lines and said antenna to lie in a single plane.
8. A method for producing a housing for a medical implant having a hollow housing (12) and a terminal body (14) attached therein, which comprises an electrically insulating plastic comprising:
arranging electrical supply lines and an antenna as flat lines respectively that lie in one plane;
joining electrical contacts to said electrical supply lines using a weld;
fixing said electrical supply lines,
said electrical contacts, and
said antenna in an injection mold using a retainer (48);

embedding or partially extrusion coating in a first injection procedure,
said electrical contacts,
said electrical supply lines and
said antenna to form a molded part;

fixing said molded part in said injection mold;
embedding completely in a second injection procedure,
said electrical supply lines,
said electrical contacts and
said antenna to obtain a final form of a terminal body;

removing said retainer;
testing said electrical supply lines, said electrical contacts and said antenna of said terminal body before coupling said terminal body to said hollow housing;
welding said electrical supply lines and said antenna to respective contact pins of said hollow housing;
gluing said terminal body to said hollow housing; and,
encapsulating cavity (46) with adhesive.
9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:
testing said electrical supply lines, said electrical contacts and said antenna of said molded part before said embedding completely in said second injection procedure.
10. The method according to claim 8 further comprising:
pre-mounting one or more of said electrical contacts using one or more clamping screws; and,
injecting on or extrusion coating a cover and sealing a screw contact to an outside portion of said cover.
11. The method according to claim 8 further comprising using a different plastic for said second injection procedure than for said first injection procedure.
12. The method according to claim 8 further comprising producing said electrical supply lines and said antenna to lie in a single plane.

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. An apparatus comprising:
at least one frame component comprising 1xth of a 360 degree radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader antenna array, wherein the frame component is configured to physically couple to at least one other of the frame components to form a multi-frame component;
at least one RFID tag reader antenna mount comprising a part of the frame component, wherein the RFID tag reader antenna mount is configured to aim a corresponding RFID tag reader antenna outwardly of the frame component;

such that connecting X of the frame components together will yield the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array having a plurality of RFID tag reader antennas disposed thereon.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein X equals 2.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein X equals 4.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein X equals at least 8.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas include at least two RFID tag reader antennas that are disposed on substantially opposing sides of the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array that are configured to radiate RFID tag interrogations outwardly of the multi-frame component.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array is laterally symmetrical about a central axis.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array comprises a symmetrically-shaped polygon.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the symmetrically-shaped polygon comprises an octagon.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the symmetrically-shaped polygon comprises square.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a first group of the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas are disposed at a first substantially-identical pitch and a second group of the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas are disposed at a second substantially-identical pitch, wherein the first substantially-identical pitch and the second substantially-identical pitch are different from one another.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the RFID tag reader antennas of the first group are interleaved with the RFID tag reader antennas of the second group.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag reader antenna comprises a plate antenna.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the RFID tag reader antenna comprises a phased array-type antenna.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
at least one RFID tag reader supported by the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array and operably coupled to the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:
at least a second RFID tag reader supported by the 360 degree RFID tag reader antenna array;

wherein the RFID tag reader antennas that are operably coupled to the RFID tag reader are interleaved with the RFID tag reader antennas that are operably coupled to the second RFID tag reader.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:
a shroud disposed about the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas to visually conceal the plurality of RFID tag reader antennas, wherein the shroud is comprised of substantially radio frequency-transparent material.
17. A method comprising:
providing a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader antenna units, wherein each of the RFID tag reader antenna units comprises:
at least one frame component having at least one RFID tag reader antenna attached thereto;
at least one RFID tag reader that operably couples to the at least one RFID tag reader antenna as corresponds to that RFID tag reader antenna unit;

disposing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within a facility to facilitate interrogating RFID tags within the facility, wherein the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units are disposed higher than an expected location of at least 90% of the RFID tags when the RFID tags are in the facility.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the RFID tag reader for each of the RFID tag reader antenna units only operably couples to the RFID tag reader antennas as comprise a part of the RFID tag reader antenna unit for the particular RFID tag reader.
19. The method of claim 17 wherein each of the RFID tag reader antenna units comprises at least two of the RFID tag readers that couple to the RFID tag reader antennas as correspond to that RFID tag reader antenna unit.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units are all disposed at a substantially same height within the facility.
21. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units are disposed within the facility such that power as emanated by at least two of the RFID tag reader antenna units overlaps.
22. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units is disposed within an interior corner of the facility.
23. The method of claim 17 wherein at least one of the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units is disposed about a vertical support column for the facility.
24. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
at least substantially visually concealing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within corresponding radio frequency-transparent shrouds.
25. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
at least substantially visually concealing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within a ceiling for the facility.
26. The method of claim 17 wherein disposing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within a facility comprises disposing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units such that they are readily lowered to facilitate servicing without disassembly.
27. The method of claim 17 wherein disposing the plurality of RFID tag reader antenna units within a facility comprises disposing at least one of the RFID tag reader antenna units vertically stacked with respect to another of the RFID tag reader antenna units.
28. A modular radio frequency identification (RFID) reader assembly for use in reading a plurality of RFID tags, the assembly comprising:
a frame comprising multiple sections that together form a frame periphery;
a mounting structure coupled to the frame and configured to mount the frame in a location elevated above the plurality of RFID tags;
a plurality of antenna mounts, at least one of each at each one of the multiple sections and each of the antenna mounts being configured to mount and retain at least one antenna element at a downward angle, wherein the downward angle is selected at least as a function of a height of the frame relative to the plurality of RFID tags;
a plurality of antenna elements mounted to a selected one or more of the plurality of antenna mounts to provide antenna coverage for a region about and below the frame; and

one or more RFID tag readers coupled to the plurality of antenna elements.

1. An optical source comprising:
a laser unit being tunable in wavelength, having a laser mode selection, and being adapted to provide a laser signal in accordance with one or more laser control parameters,
an analysis unit adapted to receive a laser operation signal indicative of the laser unit’s operation, and
a control unit adapted to receive an output of the analysis unit and to control a setting of the one or more laser control parameters of the laser unit for generating the laser signal,
wherein the analysis unit is adapted to analyze the laser operation signal for an indication of a mode hop occurred in the generated laser signals during a sweep through a wavelength range, and to provide the detected mode hop indication to the control unit, and
the control unit is adapted to determine at least one correction value based on the detected mode hop indication for modifying at least one of the one or more laser control parameters for a next wavelength sweep.
2. The optical source of claim 1, wherein the laser unit comprises at least one of a single-mode laser and an external cavity arrangement.
3. The optical source of claim 1, wherein the laser operation signal is at least one of: total power of the laser signal, ratio of intracavity and output power of the laser signal, wavelength of the laser signal, power of spontaneous source emission of the laser signal, power of side-modes of the laser signal, amplitude, phase or frequency noise of the laser signal, a drive parameter for a laser gain medium, or electrical current, voltage or power for driving a laser diode.
4. The optical source of claim 1, wherein the analysis unit is adapted to derive from the laser operation signal a variation of at least one parameter.
5. The optical source of claim 4, wherein the parameter is at least one of wavelength, wavelength variation, wavelength variation over wavelength, phase, power of the laser signal, laser power, laser diode current, laser diode power.
6. The optical source of claim 4, wherein the variation is at least one of a variation over time or a variation over a different laser operation parameter.
7. The optical source of claim 4, wherein the analysis unit is adapted to derive the mode hop indication by analyzing the parameter variation for at least one of a discontinuity, a jump, a strong variations, or a variation above a predefined limit.
8. The optical source of claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the at least one correction value based on at least on of a theoretical or an empirical analysis.
9. The optical source of claim 8, wherein the theoretical analysis is based on at least one of an analysis of the geometry of the laser cavity and a calculation of the relationships of plural mode hops.
10. The optical source of claim 8, wherein the empirical analysis is based on at least one of historical data from previous runs, values gathered from experience, and a hierarchy of parameters.
11. The optical source of claim 1, wherein the laser unit comprises coarse tuning elements adapted for substantially continuously tuning the laser signal, and a fine tuning element adapted to provide a correction or modification of the coarse tuning elements.
12. The optical source of claim 10, wherein the fine tuning element is adapted to at least one of: modifying a filter curve for selecting modes, moving a dispersion element for selecting at least one laser mode, modifying the dispersive characteristic of a dispersive element, modifying the periodicity of the dispersive element, modifying the direction of the beam incident to the dispersive element, moving a retro-reflective dispersive element, modifying the optical path length in the external cavity, moving one of the cavity elements to change the geometrical length, moving at least one of the end mirrors, moving an optical element such as a wedge substantially perpendicular to the optical beam, controlling the optical path length of at least one of the cavity elements by an external parameter, controlling the orientation of the optical active axis by an external parameter.
13. The optical source of claim 10, wherein the external parameter is at least one of an applied electrical or magnetic field, temperature, uniaxial or hydrostatic pressure.
14. A method for operating a laser unit tunable in wavelength, having a laser mode selection, and being adapted to provide a laser signal in accordance with one or more laser control parameters, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) sweeping the laser signal in a wavelength range,
(b) receiving a laser operation signal indicative of the laser unit’s operation during the sweep,
(c) analyzing the laser operation signal for detecting an indication of a mode hop occurred in the generated laser signals during the sweep,
(d) determining at least one correction value based on the detected mode hop indication, and
(e) modifying, based on the determined at least one correction value, at least one of the one or more laser control parameters applicable for a next wavelength sweep.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps (b) to (e) are executed at at least one of the occasions: for each wavelength sweep, for selected wavelengths sweeps, according to a predefined schedule, during specific calibration runs.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein execution of the steps (b) to (e) can be disabled.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step prior to step (a) of setting at least one arbitrary or pseudo arbitrary correction value for at least one of the one or more laser control parameters in order to induce or provoke a mode hop.
18. The method of claim 14, wherein the step (a) comprises a step of repeatedly disabling or reducing laser activity during the wavelength sweep.
19. A software program or product, preferably stored on a data carrier, for executing the method of claim 14, when run on a data processing system such as a computer.

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 feces collection container including a suspension, a suspension storage container having an opening at a tip end and capable of storing the suspension inside thereof and a sample collecting member provided with a sample bearing portion at a tip end for a sample made of feces to adhere thereto and attachable to the suspension storage container at the opening at the tip end in a closely-attached state while the sample bearing portion is inserted into the suspension storage container, and configured in such a manner that the sample collecting member is attached to the suspension storage container while the sample bearing portion is dipped in the suspension, the feces collection container being characterized in that:
the suspension storage container has a flat portion across a specific region including a tail end;
the flat portion has an outer peripheral wall forming a flat outer peripheral surface and a partition wall extending in a flat cross section of the outer peripheral wall in a minor axis direction substantially orthogonal to a major axis direction of the flat cross section to partition a chamber inside the outer peripheral wall into plural chambers aligned side by side in the major axis direction, so that the suspension is stored only in part of the plural partitioned chambers, and that a sealing member having an outline almost identical with an outline of the outer peripheral wall is laminated on tail end surfaces of the outer peripheral wall and the partition wall;
the suspension storage container and the sample collecting member are provided with screw portions and the sample collecting member is attachable to the suspension storage container through threaded engagement of the screw portions, and the sample bearing portion includes plural concave grooves formed on an outer peripheral surface at a tip end of the sample collecting member to align side by side in an axial direction; and
the suspension storage container includes a cylinder portion in proximity to the opening and dimensioned to remove extra feces adhering onto outer surface areas of the sample bearing portion as the sample bearing portion passes through the cylinder portion and scraping claws formed in positions to be soaked in the suspension when the suspension storage container opening faces up, the scraping claws being dimensioned and disposed to be introduced successively into the respective concave grooves in association with a translation of the sample collecting member with respect to the suspension storage container caused by a tightening of the screw portions so that the scraping claws scrape off the feces inside the concave grooves by undergoing relative displacement in a circumferential direction with respect to the concave grooves in association with a relative rotational movement of the sample collecting member with respect to the suspension storage container by the tightening operation for the feces to be dispersed in the suspension.
2. The feces collection container according to claim 1, wherein:
the flat portion has a pair of partition walls aligned side by side inside the outer peripheral wall in the major axis direction of the flat cross section, and the suspension is stored in a space between the partition walls.
3. The feces collection container according to claim 1, wherein:
the outer peripheral wall has a cross section almost in a shape of a rectangle, and the partition wall extends in a direction almost parallel to short sides of the rectangle.
4. The feces collection container according to claim 1, wherein:
the flat portion is formed almost across an entire area of the suspension storage container.
5. The feces collection container according to claim 1, wherein: the screw portion of the suspension storage container is formed at the opening at the tip end and the sample collecting member includes a flat handle portion formed at an end portion on an opposite side to the sample bearing portion and a screw portion formed between the handle portion and the sample bearing portion, and the feces collection container is configured in such a manner that the suspension storage container and the sample collecting member are attachable to each other through threaded engagement of the both screw portions;
the feces collection container includes a locking mechanism that allows the suspension storage container and the sample collecting member to engage with each other at a specific rotational position; and
the locking mechanism defines a threaded engagement operation completing position at which a major axis direction of the handle portion and a major axis direction of the flat portion of the suspension storage container are brought almost into agreement with each other.
6. The feces collection container according to claim 1, wherein:
of the chambers inside the suspension storage container, at least part of the chambers storing no suspension is filled with a cooling agent to cool the suspension.
7. A feces collection container comprising:
a sample collecting member having a handle and a rod extending from the handle, outer peripheral portions of the rod remote from the handle having a plurality of concave grooves aligned side by side in an axial direction, and being configured for collecting a feces sample, threads between the handle and the concave grooves;
a suspension storage container having opposite first and second ends, an outer peripheral wall extending between the ends, first and second openings formed in the first and second ends respectively, at least part of the first opening defining a cylinder portion with threads configured for threadedly engaging the threads of the sample collecting member, the outer peripheral wall having opposite flat front and rear panels having a first width and opposite side panels extending between the front and rear panels and defining a second width less than the first width, at least one partition wall extending between the front and rear panels and dividing the suspension storage container into at least first and second chambers, the first chamber communicating with both the first and second openings and the second chamber spaced from the first and second openings, scraping claws formed in the first chamber and spaced from the threads of the cylinder portion by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the concave grooves and the threads of the sample collecting member; and
a sealing film having an outline substantially identical to an outline of the peripheral wall of the suspension storage container and laminated to the outer peripheral wall and the partition wall at the second end of the storage container, the sealing film being pierceable by a nozzle for removing a suspension from the first chamber of the suspension storage container, whereby threaded engagement of the threads on the sample collecting member with the threads on the container causes the scraping claws to be introduced sequentially into the concave grooves of the sample collecting member and to move substantially circumferentially through the concave grooves for separating collected feces from the concave grooves.
8. The feces collecting container of claim 7, wherein the at least one partition wall comprises two partition walls dividing the suspension storage container into the first and second chambers and a third chamber.
9. The feces collecting container of claim 8, wherein the first chamber is between the second and third chambers.
10. The feces collecting container of claim 8, further comprising a label on the flat front panel.
11. The feces collection container of claim 10, wherein a distance between the front and rear panels is less than a distance between the partition walls.
12. The feces collection container of claim 11, wherein the second and third chambers are smaller than the first chamber.
13. The feces collecting container of claim 11, wherein the first chamber has a suspension therein and the second and third chamber have no suspension therein, the suspension being filled sufficiently in the first chamber to cover the scraping claws.
14. The feces collecting container of claim 7, further comprising a label on the flat front panel.