All The Claims

1. A method for non destructive evaluation of defects in a metallic object by eddy currents, the method comprising the steps of emitting at least one alternating electromagnetic field at at least one first frequency fi in the neighbourhood of the metallic object and detecting through at least one magnetoresistive sensor a response signal constituted by a return electromagnetic field which is re-emitted by eddy currents induced by the alternating electromagnetic field in said metallic object,
characterized in that it comprises the further steps of driving said at least one magnetoresistive sensor by a current at a second frequency fc which is different from said first frequency fi, so that said at least one magnetoresistive sensor acts as an in situ modulator and filtering the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor to keep either the frequency sum (fi+fc) of said first and second frequencies or the frequency difference (fi\u2212fc) of said first and second frequencies before processing said response signal to extract eddy current information on defects in said metallic object (2).
2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said filtering step comprises filtering the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor to keep the frequency difference (fi\u2212fc) of said first and second frequencies before processing said response signal to extract eddy current information on defects in said metallic object.
3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the alternating electromagnetic field is emitted at a single first frequency (f1) which is higher than 100 kHz.
4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises the steps of amplifying a voltage between first and second terminals of said magnetoresistive sensor, to obtain an amplified voltage and sending said amplified voltage to a signal input of a mixing and filtering system and mixing a frequency reference signal at said second frequency fc with a frequency reference signal at said first frequency f1 in a multiplier to obtain a product reference signal f1\u2212fc which is applied to a reference input of the same mixing and filtering system whose output is processed as an ordinary output signal of an eddy current testing method.
5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a sensing axis which is placed orthogonally to the emitted alternating electromagnetic field.
6. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a sensing axis which is placed parallel to the emitted alternating electromagnetic field.
7. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the response signal is detected through an array of sensors which are used as in-situ demodulators and are able to detect the different components of the return electromagnetic field which are due to the modification of the eddy currents by a defect.
8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one alternating electromagnetic field is emitted in the neighbourhood of the metallic object at a set of different first frequencies (f1, f2) which are all different from said second frequency fc.
9. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that said filtering step comprises filtering the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor to keep the frequency differences (f1\u2212fc, f2\u2212fc) of said first and second frequencies before processing said response signal as a simple demodulated signal giving the useful signal created by the modification of the eddy currents by a defect.
10. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a non linear behaviour and the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor is filtered to keep either the frequency sum (fi+nfc) of said first frequency and n times the second frequency or the frequency difference (fi\u2212nfc) of said first frequency and n times the second frequency, where n is an integer, before processing said response signal to extract eddy current information or defects in said metallic object.
11. A device for non destructive evaluation of defects in a metallic object by eddy currents, comprising at least one field emitter for emitting at least one alternating electromagnetic field at at least one first frequency fi in the neighbourhood of the metallic object, and at least one magnetoresistive sensor for detecting a response signal constituted by a return electromagnetic field which is re-emitted by eddy currents induced by the alternating electromagnetic field in said metallic object, characterized in that it further comprises:
driving means for driving said at least one magnetoresistive sensor by a current at a second frequency fc which is different from said first frequency fi, so that said at least one magnetoresistive sensor acts as an in situ modulator,
detecting means for detecting between the terminals of the magnetoresistive sensor a response signal,
filtering means for filtering the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor to keep either the frequency sum (fi+fc) of said first and second frequencies or the frequency difference (fi\u2212fc) of said first and second frequencies, and
processing means for processing said filtered response signal and extract eddy current information on defects in said metallic object.
12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that said detecting means comprises amplification means, means for detecting reference signals at said at least one first frequency fi and at said second frequency fc, multiplying means for mixing said at least one first frequency fi and said second frequency fc and at least a lock-in amplifier for detecting the frequency sum (fi+fc) of said first and second frequencies or the frequency difference (fi\u2212fc) of said first and second frequencies.
13. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor comprises multiple contact points for voltage measurements.
14. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor comprises an array of sensors.
15. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is a Hall effect sensor.
16. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is an anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor (AMR), a giant magnetoresistive sensor (GMR), a giant magnetoimpedance sensor (GMI) or a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor (TMR).
17. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the said at least one field emitter is a planar coil.
18. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a very thin silicon substrate.
19. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a bevelled substrate.
20. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a flexible substrate.
21. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor has a yoke shape, in that the length (L) of the yoke and the length (l) of the lateral arms of the yoke each are at least three times the width (w) of the yoke, and in that the width (w) of the yoke is comprised between 2 \u03bcm and 12 \u03bcm.
22. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a sensing axis which is placed orthogonally to the emitted alternating electromagnetic field.
23. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a sensing axis which is placed parallel to the emitted alternating electromagnetic field.
24. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the response signal is detected through an array of sensors which are used as in-situ demodulators and are able to detect the different components of the return electromagnetic field which are due to the modification of the eddy currents by a defect.
25. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one magnetoresistive sensor has a non linear behaviour and the response signal detected by said at least one magnetoresistive sensor is filtered to keep either the frequency sum (fi+nfc) of said first frequency and n times the second frequency or the frequency difference (fi\u2212nfc) of said first frequency and n times the second frequency, where n is an integer, before processing said response signal to extract eddy current information or defects in said metallic object.
26. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor comprises multiple contact points for voltage measurements.
27. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor comprises an array of sensors.
28. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is a Hall effect sensor.
29. A device according to claim 12, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is an anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor (AMR), a giant magnetoresistive sensor (GMR), a giant magnetoimpedance sensor (GMI) or a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor (TMR).
30. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that the said at least one field emitter is a planar coil.
31. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a very thin silicon substrate.
32. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a bevelled substrate.
33. A device according to claim 17, characterized in that the magnetoresistive sensor is built on a flexible 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.

1-9. (canceled)
10. A method for equalizing a butting structure on a flat-plate x-ray detector when taking an x-ray image with the flat-plate x-ray detector, comprising:
measuring the butting structure at the flat-plate x-ray detector;
determining a pixel quantity parameter of the butting structure at the flat-plate x-ray detector for an interpolation of a pixel data value; and
performing the interpolation of the pixel data value in the x-ray image taken with the flat-plate x-ray detector based on the pixel quantity parameter.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pixel quantity parameter is determined as a function of a row or a column of the x-ray image and the interpolation is performed as a function of the row or the column based on the pixel quantity parameter.
12. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the butting structure is measured using a backlight recording based on the x-ray image recorded on the flat-plate x-ray detector.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the backlight recording is preprocessed and is subjected to a threshold value criterion to determine the pixel quantity parameter.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the preprocessing includes an offset correction.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the preprocessing includes an lowpass filtering.
16. The method as claimed in claim 12,
wherein a plurality of backlight recording are taken at a plurality of different backlight intensities which are assigned to a plurality of different x-ray light doses,
wherein the pixel quantity parameter is determined as a function of the x-ray light doses and the interpolation is performed in the x-ray image based on a selected x-ray light dose used for taking the x-ray image.
17. The method as claimed in claim 12,
wherein a plurality of backlight recordings are taken for a plurality of different mode settings of the flat-plate x-ray detector,
wherein the pixel quantity parameter is determined as a function of the mode settings and the interpolation is performed in the x-ray image based on a selected mode setting of the flat-plate x-ray detector when taking the x-ray image.
18. A method for examining a quality of a butting structure on a flat-plate x-ray detector when manufacturing the flat-plate x-ray detector, comprising:
butting a plurality of plates to the flat-plate x-ray detector;
making the flat-plate x-ray detector ready for taking a backlight recording of the flat-plate x-ray detector prior to link a scintillator to the flat-plate x-ray detector;
measuring the butting structure based on the backlight recording; and
examining the quality of the butting structure on the flat-plate x-ray detector.
19. An x-ray system, comprising:
an x-ray emitter;
a flat-plate x-ray detector consisting of a plurality of plates connected by a butting structure; and
a data processing unit for performing an interpolation in an x-ray image taken by the flat-plate x-ray detector,
wherein a pixel quantity parameter of the butting structure at the flat-plate x-ray detector is determined and the interpolation is performed with a variable number of pixels as a function of a row or a column of the x-ray image based on the determined pixel quantity parameter.

1. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus comprising:
a first housing extending in a longitudinal direction and including a camera lens housing mounted on its bottom surface and at least one first speaker unit positioned adjacent to the camera lens housing;
a second housing adapted to slideswing while continuously facing a top surface of the first housing and being disposed parallel to the first housing along the longitudinal direction;
a cover coupled to a portion of the bottom surface of the first housing and adapted to slide along the longitudinal direction; and
at least one opening formed on the cover to selectively expose or hide the camera lens housing or the first speaker unit according to a position of the cover.
2. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is provided with, on a top surface, a first key array composed of a number of keys and a second key array composed of a number of keys disposed adjacent to the first key array; the number of keys of the first key array being smaller than the number of keys of the second key array; the first key array being composed of keys associated with the camera lens; and the second key array being composed of a keyboard including numeric keys, character keys and function keys.
3. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is provided with, on a bottom surface, a battery pack and a locking knob adapted to be exposed or hidden according to a position of the cover.
4. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first speaker unit comprises a pair of speakers to provide stereo sound and are spaced from each other along a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
5. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the camera lens housing has a hinge axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first housing and is provided with a camera lens and a lighting unit disposed adjacent to the camera lens along the hinge axis.
6. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first housing is provided with openings disposed in each of its top and bottom surfaces and for positioning the camera lens housing therein and, according to direction in which the camera lens housing is rotated, the camera lens housing is exposed facing the top surface or the bottom surface.
7. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second housing is provided with, on a top surface, a second speaker unit, a display unit disposed adjacent to the second speaker unit, and a third key array composed of a number of keys disposed adjacent to the display unit.
8. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover opening includes a first opening adapted to selectively expose the first speaker units or the camera lens housing depending on the position of the cover, and a second opening adapted to exposehide the first speaker unit only depending on the position of the cover; the first and second openings being disposed adjacent to each other.
9. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover opening extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
10. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when the cover is in a closed position, the first opening exposes the first speaker unit only and, when the cover is in an open position, the cover opening exposes both the first speaker units the camera lens housing.
11. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus comprising:
a first housing extending in a longitudinal direction and having camera lens openings formed on predetermined areas of each of its top and bottom surfaces;
a rotatable camera lens housing positioned in the camera lens openings and having a camera lens adapted to be visibly exposed toward the top or bottom surfaces;
a pair of stereo speaker units mounted on the bottom surface of the first housing and disposed adjacent to the rotatable camera lens housing;
a cover coupled to a portion of the bottom surface of the first housing and adapted to slide along the longitudinal direction;
a first opening formed on the cover to selectively expose the rotatable camera lens housing or the stereo speaker unit according to whether or not the cover has been slid; and
a second opening formed by the cover adjacent to the first opening to exposehide the stereo speaker unit only.
12. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first housing is provided with, on its top surface, a first key array composed of a number of keys and a second key array composed of a number of keys disposed adjacent to the first key array, the number of keys of the first key array being smaller than number of keys of the second key array.
13. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the rotatable camera lens housing has a hinge axis oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first housing and is provided with a lighting unit disposed adjacent to the camera lens along the hinge axis.
14. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first opening extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
15. A slidingswing-type portable digital communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein, when the cover is closed, the first opening exposes the first stereo speaker unit only and, when the cover is open, the first opening exposes the the rotatable camera lens housing and the second opening exposes the stereo speaker unit.

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 of providing contraception, comprising administering an effective amount of a small molecule that inhibits Eppinsemenogelin binding, to a patient in need of male contraception.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the small molecule has the formula:
R2NC(O)\u2014CHR\u2032\u2014N+CHR\u2032C(O)NR2 X\u2212; where R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and alkylaryl, or two R groups on a nitrogen can form a C5-6 cycloalkyl ring, R\u2032 is an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, halo (i.e., F, Cl, Br, or I), amine, thiol, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, fluoroalkyl, such as trifluoromethyl, and X\u2212 is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion,
where alkyl groups are defined as C1-6 alkyl groups,
aryl groups include C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl rings, and
alkyl-aryl is a C1-6 alkyl group bound to a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring, and
aryl-alkyl is a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring bound to a C1-6 alkyl group.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the small molecule has the formula:
(H2N\u2014C(O)\u2014CH2\u2014NH+\u2014CH2C(O)\u2014NH2 X\u2212; where X\u2212 refers to a pharmaceutically acceptable anion.
4. A pharmaceutical composition for providing male contraception, comprising an effective amount of a small molecule that inhibits Eppinsemenogelin binding, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
5. The composition of claim 4, wherein the small molecule has the formula:
R2NC(O)\u2014CHR\u2032\u2014N+CHR\u2032C(O)NR2 X\u2212; where R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and alkylaryl, or two R groups on a nitrogen can form a C5-6 cycloalkyl ring, R\u2032 is an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, halo (i.e., F, Cl, Br, or I), amine, thiol, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, fluoroalkyl, such as trifluoromethyl, and X\u2212 is a pharmaceutically acceptable salt,
where alkyl groups are defined as C1-6 alkyl groups,
aryl groups include C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl rings, and
alkyl-aryl is a C1-6 alkyl group bound to a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring, and
aryl-alkyl is a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring bound to a C1-6 alkyl group.
6. The composition of claim 4, wherein the small molecule has the formula:
(H2N\u2014C(O)\u2014CH2\u2014NH+\u2014CH2C(O)\u2014NH2 X\u2212; where X\u2212 refers to a pharmaceutically acceptable anion.
7. A spermicidal composition, comprising a water-soluble lubricant and an effective amount of a small molecule that inhibits Eppinsemenogelin binding.
8. The composition of claim 7, wherein the small molecule has the formula:
R2NC(O)\u2014CHR\u2032\u2014N+CHR\u2032C(O)NR2 X\u2212, where R is selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, and alkylaryl, or two R groups on a nitrogen can form a C5-6 cycloalkyl ring, R\u2032 is an alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, or alkylaryl group, halo (i.e., F, Cl, Br, or I), amine, thiol, hydroxyl, carboxyl, nitro, fluoroalkyl, such as trifluoromethyl, and X\u2212 is a pharmaceutically acceptable anion,
where alkyl groups are defined as C1-6 alkyl groups,
aryl groups include C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl rings, and
alkyl-aryl is a C1-6 alkyl group bound to a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring, and
aryl-alkyl is a C5-10 aryl or heteroaryl ring bound to a C1-6 alkyl group.
9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the small molecule has the formula: (H2N\u2014C(O)\u2014CH2\u2014NH+\u2014CH2C(O)\u2014NH2 X\u2212; where X\u2212 refers to a pharmaceutically acceptable anion.