Author: claimsbot

What is claimed:

1. A dual band voltage controlled oscillator comprising:
first and second bipolar transistors, each transistor having a collector cross coupled to a base of the other transistor;
a common current source connected to supply to emitters of said first and second transistors an operating current;
a pair of inductors serially connected between each of said collectors and a power supply terminal;
tuning capacitor means connected between each of said collectors for forming a resonant circuit which said inductors at a resonant frequency;
a first output terminal connected to one of said collectors to produce a signal having a frequency equal to said resonant frequency; and
a second output terminal connected to said emitter terminals for producing a harmonic signal which is a multiple of the frequency of said resonant frequency.
2. The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising means for controlling the amount of coupling between said collectors and base connections whereby the level of the harmonic signal is controlled.
3. The circuit according to claim 2 wherein the means for controlling the amount of coupling comprises first and second digital devices serially connecting a respective base of each bipolar transistor to a base of an opposite transistor.
4. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein said tuning capacitor means comprises first and second varactor diodes serially connecting said bipolar transistor collectors, and connected to receive a tuning voltage for continuously varying the frequency of oscillation of said circuit.
5. The circuit according to claim 1 further comprising means for varying the amount of harmonic signal at said second output terminal.
6. The circuit according to claim 5 wherein said means for varying the amount of harmonic signal comprises a series resonant filter having a series resonance frequency which is the second harmonic connected at one end to one end of said current source; and
resistance means connecting a second end of said series resonant filter to a second end of said current source.
7. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein said resistance means is a field effect transistor connected to receive a control voltage on a gate thereof and to change the amount of current flowing through said series resonant filter.
8. The circuit according to claim 3 wherein said digital devices comprise first and second field effect transistors having source and drain connections connected to a respective base of said bipolar transistors, and a gate connection connected to a respective collector connection of an opposite transistor, and first and second resistors connected to each of said transistor gates for applying a voltage for operating said switches.
9. The circuit according to claim 1 wherein said resonant frequency is substantially 900 MHZ and said harmonic frequency is at substantially 1800 MHZ.
10. The circuit according to claim 6 wherein said series resonant frequency is 1800 MHZ.

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 the continuous torrefaction of biomass to obtain a fuel of specified or constant properties, said method comprising:
sensing a property of biomass; and
controlling the torrefaction in proportion to said property,
wherein said sensing senses a mid-infrared spectra of torrefied biomass, and wherein said controlling includes utilizing a correlation of mid-infrared spectra and two ratios of H, C, and O atoms to estimate, based on said correlation and said sensed spectra, two ratios of H, C, and O atoms in the sample, and changing torrefaction parameters to approach the target values of H, C, and O atoms.
2. The method of claim 1, where said sensing estimates the heating value of biomass.
3. The method of claim 2, where said sensing includes sensing the heating value of biomass.
4. The method of claim 2, where said sensing includes sensing an optical property of biomass.
5. The method of claim 4, where said optical property is sensed using visible light.
6. The method of claim 4, where said optical property is sensed using mid-infrared light.
7. The method of claim 1, where said sensing estimates the moisture content of the biomass.
8. The method of claim 1, where said controlling controls the torrefaction temperature.
9. The method of claim 1, where said controlling controls the time during which the biomass is torrefied.
10. The method of claim 1, where said sensing estimates a physical or chemical property of the biomass, and where said controlling controls the conditions of torrefaction to obtain target fuel properties.
11. The method of claim 1, further including logging information related to the biomass or fuel.
12. The method of claim 1, further including storing fuel samples.
13. The method of claim 1, where said sensing a property of the biomass senses the property during the torrefaction of the biomass.
14. A method for the continuous torrefaction of biomass to obtain a fuel of specified or constant properties, said method comprising:
sensing a property of the biomass during the torrefaction of the biomass; and
controlling the torrefaction in proportion to said property.
15. The method of claim 14, where said sensing estimates the heating value of biomass.
16. The method of claim 15, where said sensing includes sensing the heating value of biomass.
17. The method of claim 15, where said sensing includes sensing an optical property of biomass.
18. The method of claim 17, where said optical property is sensed using visible light.
19. The method of claim 17, where said optical property is sensed using mid-infrared light.
20. The method of claim 14, where said sensing estimates the moisture content of the biomass.
21. The method of claim 14, where said controlling controls the torrefaction temperature.
22. The method of claim 14, where said controlling controls the time during which the biomass is torrefied.
23. The method of claim 14, where said sensing estimates a physical or chemical property of the biomass, and where said controlling controls the conditions of torrefaction to obtain target fuel properties.
24. The method of claim 14, further including logging information related to the biomass or fuel.
25. The method of claim 14, further including storing fuel samples.

1. An apparatus comprising:
an intubation device that includes a flexible tube that surrounds a lumen that extends through the intubation device, wherein the tube has a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of spaced-apart flexible resilient annular blaines located between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the plurality of blaines and the tube are formed as a single monolithic piece of a single material that extends radially from the lumen of the tube to an outer circumference of each of the plurality of blaines, wherein each of the plurality of blaines is radially tapered from a first thickness at an inner radius to a second thickness at an outer radius, wherein the second thickness is thinner than the first thickness, and wherein the distal end is configured to be inserted into a body passage in a body of a patient and the proximal end is configured to be outside the patient’s body and attached to a medical device.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the distal end have a smaller circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is farther from the distal end.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the proximal end have a smaller circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is farther from the proximal end.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device that is second closest to the proximal end has a larger circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is closest to the proximal end and a smaller circumference than yet another one of the plurality of blaines that is third closest to the proximal end, and wherein one of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device that is second closest to the distal end has a larger circumference than
another one of the plurality of blaines that is closest to the distal end and a smaller circumference than yet another one of the plurality of blaines that is third closest to the distal end.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plurality of blaines includes a plurality of larger-circumference blaines located between those ones of the plurality of blaines that are closest, second closest, and third closest to the proximal end and those ones of the plurality of blaines that are closest, second closest, and third closest to the distal end.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein
a plurality of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the proximal end each have a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape, and
another plurality of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the distal end each have a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device include N blaines, wherein N is an integer, the N blaines including:
a first blaine closest to the proximal end having a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape,
a second blaine second closest to the proximal end having a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape, wherein the second blaine has a larger circumference than that of the first Blaine,
an Nth blaine closest to the distal end having a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape,
an N\u22121st blaine second closest to the distal end having a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape, wherein the second blaine has a larger circumference than that of the first blaine, and
a plurality of additional blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device between the second blaine and the N\u22121st blaine each have a first face having a substantially conical shape and a second face having a substantially planar shape.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the intubation device in its entirety is made of material that is autoclaveable with substantially no damage.
9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer circumference of each one of the plurality of blaines is substantially circular.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of blaines have a first face that is substantially conical and an opposite second face that is substantially planar.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the tube has a tip that is angled at a non-perpendicular angle to the lumen’s axis, wherein the plurality of blaines are each tapered at an 11-degree angle from the first thickness at the inner radius of each respective one of the plurality of blaines to the second thickness at the outer circumference of the respective one of the plurality of blaines, and wherein the tube includes a tube wall that is thicker close to the proximal end than elsewhere along a length of the tube in order to prevent damage caused from biting on the tube by the patient, and wherein the tube and the plurality of blaines are one solid molded piece of silicone.
12. A method comprising:
providing an intubation device that includes a flexible tube that surrounds a lumen that extends through the intubation device, wherein the tube has a proximal end and a distal end and a plurality of spaced-apart flexible resilient annular blaines located between the distal end and the proximal end, wherein the plurality of blaines and the tube are formed as a single monolithic piece of a single material that extends radially from the lumen to an outer circumference of each of the plurality of blaines, and wherein each of the plurality of blaines is radially tapered from a first thickness at an inner radius to a second thickness at an outer radius, wherein the second thickness is thinner than the first thickness;
inserting the distal end into a body passage such that the plurality of blaines seals to walls of the body passage and the proximal end is outside the body passage; and
attaching the proximal end to a medical device.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein
a plurality of the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the distal end to have a smaller circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is farther from the distal end.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein
a plurality of the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the proximal end to have a smaller circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is farther from the proximal end.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein
one of the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device that is second closest to the proximal end to have a larger circumference than
another one of the plurality of blaines that is closest to the proximal end and a smaller circumference than yet another one of the plurality of blaines that is third closest to the proximal end, and
wherein one of the plurality of blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device that is second closest to the distal end to have a larger circumference than another one of the plurality of blaines that is closest to the distal end and a smaller circumference than yet another one of the plurality of blaines that is third closest to the distal end.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein
the plurality of blaines includes a plurality of larger-circumference blaines located between those ones of the plurality of blaines that are closest, second closest, and third closest to the proximal end and those ones of the plurality of blaines that are closest, second closest, and third closest to the distal end.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein
a plurality of the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the proximal end to each have a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape, and
wherein another plurality of the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen of the intubation device closest to the distal end each have a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein
the plurality of blaines on the tube that surrounds the lumen includes N blaines, wherein N is an integer, the N blaines including:
a first blaine closest to the proximal end having a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape,
a second blaine second closest to the proximal end having a first face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially planar shape, wherein the second blaine has a larger circumference than that of the first blaine,
an Nth blaine closest to the distal end having a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape,
an N\u22121st blaine second closest to the distal end having a first face facing and closer to the distal end having a substantially conical shape and a second face facing and closer to the proximal end having a substantially planar shape, wherein the second blaine has a larger circumference than that of the first blaine, and
a plurality of additional blaines formed on the tube that surrounds the lumen between the second blaine and the N\u22121st blaine each have a first face having a substantially conical shape and a second face having a substantially planar shape.
19. An apparatus comprising:
an intubation device that includes a flexible tube that surrounds a lumen, the intubation device having a distal end for insertion into a body passage, and a proximal end configured to be outside the body and attached to a medical device; and
a plurality of spaced-apart means for sealing between the tube that surrounds the lumen and the body passage, wherein the tube and the plurality of means for sealing are formed as a single monolithic piece of a single material.
20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein an outer circumference of each one of the plurality of means for sealing are flexible, resilient, and substantially circular.
21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein at least two of the plurality of means for sealing are flexible, resilient, and have a first face that is substantially conical and an opposite second face that is substantially planar, and wherein the first faces of the at least two of the plurality of means for sealing face in opposite directions.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A lens apparatus comprising:
a fixed member which constitute a body of the apparatus;
first and second lens holding members which hold respective lens units and are movable in the direction of the optical axis with respect to the fixed member; and
a driving member which engage the first and second lens holding members and drives these first and second lens holding members in the direction of the optical axis,
wherein the fixed member is provided with a support portion which supports the first lens holding member in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and
the second lens holding member is provided with a first supported portion supported by the first lens holding member in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis and a second supported portion supported by the fixed member in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis at positions separate from each other in the direction of the optical axis and at least two locations around the optical axis.
2. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a part which supports the second supported portion in the fixed member is formed in the peripheral wall housing the first and second lens holding members in the fixed member.
3. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support portion provided in the fixed member and the first supported portion provided in the second lens holding member engage with the same groove portion formed in the first lens holding member in such a way as to extend in the direction of the optical axis.
4. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second supported portions provided in the second lens holding member are provided with the same phase around the optical axis.
5. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixed member is provided with a housing portion which houses the supported portion of the second lens holding member which has been moved to the fixed member side in the direction of the optical axis.
6. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving member is a cam member which rotates with respect to the fixed member, engages with cam follower portions provided in the first and second lens holding members respectively and drives these first and second lens holding members in the direction of the optical axis.
7. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lens holding member holds the front lens unit of a plurality of lens units provided in the apparatus.
8. The lens apparatus according to claim 1, wherein both the first and second lens holding members move in the direction of the optical axis during a magnification varying operation.
9. A camera comprising:
the lens apparatus according to claim 1; and
a recording unit which records an image of an object formed by the lens apparatus.