All The Claims

1. A method for operating a webcam, comprising:
moving a first lens from a first position wherein an image from said first lens is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam to a second position;
moving a second lens from a first position not in optical alignment with the first lens, into a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam with said first and second lenses in the second positions; and
wherein said moving is done using a single mechanical structure for moving both said first and second lenses in response to a single movement by a user, and said moving of said first lens changes a distance between the first lens and the image sensor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second lens is mounted on a member that slides to a position in front of the first camera lens, said member being curved and slideable within a curved slot in a housing of said webcam.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said member is moveable via a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising blocking light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said webcam includes a rounded housing, and the second lens is disposed on a curved cover that slides over the first lens.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein a motion of the single mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens.
8. A method for operating a webcam, comprising:
disposing a first lens in a position wherein an image from said first lens is in focus on an image sensor of said webcam;
moving a second lens from a first position not in optical alignment with the first lens, into a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, and moving said first lens so as to change a distance between said first lens and the image sensor, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on the image sensor of said webcam; and
wherein said second lens is mounted on a member that slides to a position in front of the first camera lens, said member being curved and slideable within a curved slot in a housing of said webcam.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein said moving is done using a single mechanical structure for moving both said first and second lenses in response to a single movement by a user.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein a motion of the single mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein said member is moveable via a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
12. The method of claim 8, further comprising blocking light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
14. A webcam, comprising:
an aperture;
an image sensor;
a first lens;
a second lens including a first position not in optical alignment with said first lens, and a second position in optical alignment with said first lens, wherein an image from said first and second lenses is in focus on said image sensor when said second lens is in the second position; and
a mechanical structure configured to move both said first lens and said second lens in response to a single movement by a user,
wherein said moving of said first lens changes a distance between the first lens and the image sensor.
15. The webcam of claim 14, wherein said mechanical structure includes a protrusion configured for engagement with a user’s finger.
16. The webcam of claim 14, wherein the second lens is carried by a member configured to block light from entering the first lens via movement of the member to a position that physically obstructs the first lens.
17. The webcam of claim 14, wherein the second lens provides a magnification of less than or equal to 2.
18. The webcam of claim 14, wherein a motion of the mechanical structure exerts a direct physical pressure on a lens holder of the first lens to cause movement of the first lens parallel to an optical path of the webcam.

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

We claim:

1. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an extension tube attached to the catheter hub and in fluid communication with the catheter hub;
an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and an enlarged diameter portion;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a cavity, wherein the needle is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a wall formed in the housing;
at least one tab disposed within the cavity and disposed adjacent to the wall and proximal to the wall; and
means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab flexes proximally to permit passage of the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab is prevented from flexing distally by the wall.
2. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a resilient clip mounted in the needle shield which is adapted to flex into and out of engagement with the catheter hub wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle contacts the clip so it is flexed into a biased position into engagement with the catheter hub and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the introducer needle disengages the clip so it can flex to its unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.
3. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a retention plate disposed in the housing of the needle shield, wherein at least two tabs are leaf springs connected to the retention plate.
4. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the wall and the tab are substantially perpendicular to an axis of the catheter and introducer needle assembly and wherein the tab is in contact with the wall.
5. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 4 wherein the tab defines a hole that has a radius which is smaller than the radius of the enlarged diameter portion.
6. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 5 wherein the tab defines a hole that is larger than the main portion of the introducer needle and the wall includes an opening which is larger than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
7. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes a tether.
8. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes an opening in the housing that is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
9. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the distal end of the introducer needle includes a washer in the housing disposed about the introducer needle and including a hole that is smaller than the enlarged diameter portion of the introducer needle.
10. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an introducer needle removably disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and a discontinuous portion disposed near the distal end;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion, a distal portion, an axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and a cavity, wherein the needle is slidingly disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a medial wall formed in the housing and being disposed perpendicular to the axis of the housing;
flexible tabs disposed adjacent to and in contact with the medial wall;
wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the introducer needle is disposed between the tabs, and the tabs are adapted to permit passage of the main portion of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tabs permit passage of the discontinuous portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tabs engage the discontinuous portion of the needle introducer needle to prevent relative movement between the needle shied and the introducer needle in at least one direction.
11. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 10 further comprising a resilient clip that is adapted to flex between a biased position and an unbiased position in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the housing wherein, in the biased position, the clip engages the catheter hub and, in the unbiased condition, the clip disengages the catheter hub and wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the clip is held to one side of the introducer needle so it is flexed into the biased position and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the clip flexes to the unbiased position out of engagement with the catheter hub.
12. A needle shielding assembly comprising:
a needle having a proximal end, a distal end, an axis, a main portion, a discontinuous portion and a sharp tip at the distal end; and
a needle shield slidingly mounted to the introducer needle for movement from a first position to a second position covering the sharp tip of the introducer needle, the needle shield including:
a housing having a proximal portion and a distal portion and a cavity, wherein the needle is disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
a wall formed in the housing;
at least one flexible tab disposed adjacent to the wall and proximal to the wall; and
means for preventing unwanted distal movement of the needle shield off the sharp tip of the needle when the shield is in the second position;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab permits passage of the discontinuous portion of the needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab restrains the discontinuous portion and is prevented from flexing distally by the wall.
13. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 further comprising a catheter having a catheter hub, wherein the catheter is slidingly engaged with the needle, and further comprising a clip connected to the housing and selectively engaged to the catheter hub.
14. The needle shielding assembly of claim 13 wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, the clip is held to one side of the needle in a biased position and, when the needle shield is in the second position, the clip flexes out of engagement with the catheter hub.
15. The needle shielding assembly of claim 13 wherein the clip has a generally V-shaped configuration including a pair of legs.
16. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the discontinuous portion has a tapered proximal portion and a distally facing shoulder.
17. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the discontinuous portion is a crimp or a notch.
18. The needle shielding assembly of claim 12 wherein the flexible tab defines a through hole sized to permit passage of the main portion of the needle but to engage the discontinuous portion as it passes through the tabs.
19. The needle shield assembly of claim 12 wherein the tab is disposed substantially perpendicular to the axis of the needle.
20. A needle for use with a needle shield assembly comprising:
a hollow needle cannula having a proximal end and a distal end and an axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
a sharp tip formed at the distal end;
a hub engaged to the proximal end of the needle;
a discontinuity permanently located on the needle near the distal end of the needle, wherein the discontinuity comprises, at least in part, an enlarged diameter portion;
wherein the enlarged diameter portion includes a tapered proximal portion and a distally facing shoulder; and
wherein the distally facing shoulder is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hollow needle cannula.
21. The needle of claim 20 further comprising a notch disposed in the hollow needle cannula, wherein the notch is positioned along the hollow needle cannula at a point proximal to the discontinuity.
22. A needle shield for use with the needle of claim 20 comprising a housing slidingly mounted on the needle cannula and a means for engaging the discontinuity to secure it in relation to the housing.
23. A catheter and introducer needle assembly, comprising:
a catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;
a catheter hub in fluid communication with the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end connected to the proximal end of the catheter;
an introducer needle slidingly disposed in the catheter and having a proximal end and a distal end, the introducer needle including a main portion and at least one shoulder extending circumferentially about the needle;
a needle shield selectively engaged to the catheter hub and slidingly moveable with respect to the introducer needle from a first position to a second position at the distal end of the introducer needle, the needle shield comprising:
a housing having an open proximal portion, a distal portion, an axis extending from the proximal portion to the distal portion, and a cavity, wherein the needle is slidingly disposed, at least in part, within the cavity;
at least one resilient tab extending radially inward in the housing;
wherein, when the needle shield is in the first position, it is engaged to the catheter hub and the introducer needle is disposed in contact with the tab, and the tab is adapted to permit passage of the main portion of the introducer needle;
wherein, when the needle shield is moved from the first position to the second position, the tab permits passage of the main portion of the introducer needle; and
wherein, when the needle shield is in the second position, the tab engages the shoulder of the needle introducer needle to prevent relative movement between the needle shied and the introducer needle in at least one direction.
24. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder extends completely circumferentially about the needle.
25. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder has an inner diameter less than the outer diameter of the main portion of the needle.
26. The catheter and introducer needle assembly of claim 23 wherein the shoulder has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the main portion of the needle.

What is claimed is:

1. A repeater system comprising:
a transmitter for amplifying data received from an external base station transceiver system, converting the amplified data to a service frequency, and wirelessly sending the service frequency to a mobile station in a corresponding service area;
a receiver for amplifying the signal received from the mobile station and outputting the amplified signal to the base station transceiver system; and and
a controller for detecting the power level of the receiver, and preventing the output signal of the receiver from being sent to the base station transceiver system when the power level is above a first reference value during a first time or below a second reference value during a second time.
2. The repeater system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller comprises:
a high level detector, coupled to the output of the receiver, for detecting a high power level of the receiver;
a low level detector, coupled to the output of the receiver, for detecting a low power level of the receiver;
an integrated circuit for generating a control signal to preventing the output of the receiver from being sent to the base station transceiver system when the power level detected by the high level detector is above the first reference value during the first time, or when the power level detected by the low level detector is below the second reference value during the second time; and
a switch for enabling or disabling transmission of the output signal of the receiver to the base station transceiver system based on the control signal of the integrated circuit.
3. The repeater system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmitter comprises:
a first mixer for modulating a high frequency signal received from the base station transceiver system into an intermediate frequency signal;
a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter for filtering the output signal of the first mixer and outputting a desired intermediate frequency signal;
a second mixer for modulating the output signal of the first SAW filter into a high frequency signal; and
a first power amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the second mixer and outputting the amplified signal to the mobile station.
4. The repeater system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises:
a low-noise amplifier for amplifying a high frequency signal received from the mobile station;
a third mixer for modulating the output signal of the low-noise amplifier into an intermediate frequency signal;
a second SAW filter for filtering the output signal of the third mixer and outputting a desired high frequency signal;
a fourth mixer for modulating the output signal of the second SAW filter into a high frequency signal; and
a second power amplifier for amplifying the output signal of the fourth mixer and outputting an amplified signal.
5. A method for controlling a repeater system, comprising the steps of:
discriminating an oscillation signal of the repeater system, a talking signal and an access signal, disabling a reverse output of the repeater system during oscillation of the repeater system, and after an elapse of a first time, detecting the state of power of the reverse output;
disabling the reverse output of the repeater system when the power is in an oscillation state; and
enabling the reverse output of the repeater system when the power is not in the oscillation state and the reverse output is an access or talking signal.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
determining whether the power has a minimum value when no subscriber exists during a predetermined time;
disabling the reverse output of the repeater system when the power maintains the minimum value; and
maintaining the reverse output of the repeater system using the access signal of the subscriber when the subscriber attempts to connect while the reverse output of the repeater system is disabled.

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 modifying a chewing gum residue so as to ease removal of the chewing gum residue from a substrate, the method comprising applying to the residue a chewing gum modifying composition comprising an ionic liquid having the formula:
Cat+X\u2212

wherein: Cat+ is a cationic species, and
X\u2212 is an anionic species.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species selected from the group consisting of: ammonium, azaannulenium, azathiazolium, benzofuranium, borolium, diazabicyclodecenium, diazabicyclononenium, diazabicycloundecenium, dithiazolium, furanium, imidazolium, indolinium, indolium, morpholinium, oxaborolium, oxaphospholium, oxazinium, oxazolium, iso-oxazolium, oxathiazolium, pentazolium, phospholium, phosphonium, phthalazinium, piperazinium, piperidinium, pyranium, pyrazinium, pyrazolium, pyridazinium, pyridinium, pyrimidinium, pyrrolidinium, pyrrolium, quinazolinium, quinolinium, iso-quinolinium, quinoxalinium, selenazolium, tetrazolium, iso-thiadiazolium, thiazinium, thiazolium, thiophenium, triazadecenium, triazolium, and iso-triazolium.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species selected from the group consisting of:
N(Ra)(Rb)(Rc)(Rd)+ and P(Ra)(Rb)(Rc)(Rd)+

wherein Ra, Rb, Rc, and Rd are each independently selected from a C1 to C15, straight chain or branched alkyl group, a C1 to C15, a C3 to C8 cycloalkyl group, or a C6 to C10 aryl group, wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups are unsubstituted or may be substituted by one to three groups selected from: C1 to C6 alkoxy, C2 to C12 alkoxyalkoxy, C6 to C10 aryl, C2 to C15 straight chain or branched alkenyl, \u2014CN, \u2014OH, \u2014NO2, \u2014CO2(C1 to C6)alkyl, \u2014OC(O)(C1 to C6)alkyl, C7 to C30 aralkyl and C7 to C30 alkaryl, and wherein Rb may also be hydrogen.
4. (canceled)
5. A method according to claim 3, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species selected from the group consisting of:
6.-7. (canceled)
8. A method according to claim 2, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species selected from the group consisting of:
wherein: Ra, Rb, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, Rg and Rh are each independently selected from hydrogen, a C1 to C20 straight chain or branched alkyl group, a C3 to C8 cycloalkyl group, or a C6 to C10 aryl group, or any two of Rb, Rc, Rd, Re and Rf attached to adjacent carbon atoms may form a methylene chain \u2014(CH2)q\u2014 wherein q is from 3 to 6, and wherein said alkyl, cycloalkyl or aryl groups, or said methylene chain, are unsubstituted or may be substituted by one to three groups selected from: C1 to C6 alkoxy, C2 to C12 alkoxyalkoxy, C6 to C10 aryl, C2 to C15 straight chain or branched alkenyl, \u2014CN, \u2014OH, \u2014NO2, C7 to C10 aralkyl and C7 to C10 alkaryl, \u2014CO2(C1 to C6)alkyl, \u2014CO(O)(C1 to C6)alkyl.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species selected from the group consisting of:
10.-15. (canceled)
16. A method according to claim 1, wherein X\u2212 is an anionic species selected from the group consisting of: F\u2212, Cl\u2212, Br\u2212, I\u2212, NO3\u2212, NO2\u2212, BF4\u2212, PF6\u2212, SbF6\u2212, SCN\u2212, H2PO4\u2212, HPO42\u2212, PO43\u2212, HSO4\u2212, SO42\u2212, CH3SO3\u2212, C2H5SO3\u2212, C8H17SO3\u2212, CH3(C6H4)SO3\u2212, docusate\u2212, CH3OSO3\u2212, C2H5OSO3\u2212, C8H17OSO3\u2212, H3C(OCH2CH2)nOSO3\u2212 wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, CF3CO2\u2212, (CF3SO2)3C\u2212, (CF3SO2)2N\u2212, CF3SO3\u2212, (CF3)2N\u2212, (C2F5)3PF3\u2212, (C3F7)3PF3\u2212, (C2F5)2P(O)O\u2212, (CH3)2PO4\u2212, (CH3)2P(O)O\u2212, {(CH3)3CCH2CH(CH3)CH2}2P(O)O\u2212, HCO2\u2212, CH3CO2\u2212, CH3CH2CO2\u2212, CH2(OH)CO2\u2212, CH3CH(OH)CO2\u2212, HCO3\u2212, CO32\u2212, CH3OCO2\u2212, C2H5OCO2\u2212, saccharin\u2212, and linoleate\u2212.
17.-21. (canceled)
22. A method according to claim 1, wherein the ionic liquid has a melting point below 100\xb0 C.
23. (canceled)
24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chewing gum modifying composition further comprises one or more oxidizing reagents.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the oxidising reagents comprise an oxidation catalyst and an oxygen source.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the oxidation catalyst is a lanthanide salt or a transition metal salt.
27.-29. (canceled)
30. A method according to claim 25, wherein the oxygen source is selected from hydrogen peroxide, a hydrogen peroxide releasing compound, a salt having a halogen oxyanion, an organic hydroperoxide, an organic peroxyacid, or an organic peroxyacid salt.
31.-32. (canceled)
33. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chewing gum modifying composition further comprises:
(i) one or more natural or modified enzymes selected from the group consisting of laccases, peroxidases, ligninases and lipoxygenases; and
(ii) one or more enzyme mediator compounds.
34.-36. (canceled)
37. A method according to claim 33, wherein the one or more enzyme mediator compounds are selected from the group consisting of:
38.-41. (canceled)
42. A method according to claim 33, wherein the chewing gum modifying composition further comprises one or more enzymes selected from lipases and esterases.
43. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chewing gum modifying composition further comprises a co-solvent.
44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the co-solvent is water.
45. A method according to claim 43 wherein the ionic liquid and the co-solvent are present in the chewing gum modifying composition in a weight ratio of from 5:95 to 99:1.
46. (canceled)
47. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chewing gum modifying composition further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of surfactants, viscosity modifiers, emulsifiers, melting point suppressants and wetting agents.
48. A method according to claim 1, wherein the chewing gum residue is derived from a chewing gum comprising between 10 and 75% by weight of a gum base, wherein the gum base comprises between 5 and 80% by weight of one or more elastomers.
49.-51. (canceled)
52. A method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises stone, concrete, cement, bricks, gypsum, plasterboard, clay, ceramic, glass, asphalt, tarmac, bitumen, metals, wood, varnish, lacquer or a textile.
53. A method according to claim 1, where the modified residue is subsequently removed from the substrate by sweeping, scrubbing, vacuuming, or hosing with low pressure water.
54. A kit of parts for use in a method of removing chewing gum residues from substrates, the kit comprising:
(i) a first part comprising an ionic liquid as defined in claim 1;
(ii) a second part comprising an oxidation catalyst, the second part being optionally combined with the first part; and
(iii) an oxygen source as a third part.
55. A kit of parts for use in a method of removing chewing gum residues from substrates, the kit comprising:
(i) a first part comprising an ionic liquid as defined in claim 1;
(ii) a second part comprising one or more natural or modified enzymes selected from the group consisting of: laccases, peroxidases, lignases and lipoxygenases;
(iii) a third part comprising one or more enzyme mediator compounds, the third part being optionally combined with the first part or the second part.
56.-58. (canceled)
59. A composition comprising:
(i) an ionic liquid having the formula Cat+X\u2212, wherein Cat+ is a cationic species and X\u2212 is selected from the group consisting of: F\u2212, Cl\u2212, I\u2212, NO3\u2212, NO2\u2212, SbF6\u2212, SCN\u2212, H2PO4\u2212, HPO42\u2212, PO43\u2212, HSO4\u2212, SO42\u2212, CH3SO3\u2212, C2H5SO3\u2212, C8H17SO3\u2212, CH3(C6H4)SO3\u2212, docusate\u2212, C8H17OSO3\u2212, wherein n is an integer from 1 to 10, CF3CO2\u2212, (CF3SO2)3C\u2212, (CF3SO2)2N\u2212, CF3SO3\u2212, (CF3)2N\u2212, (C2F5)3PF3\u2212, (C3F7)3PF3\u2212, (C2F5)2P(O)O\u2212, (CH3)2PO4\u2212, (CH3)2P(O)O\u2212, {(CH3)3CCH2CH(CH3)CH2}2P(O)O\u2212, HCO2\u2212, CH3CO2\u2212, CH3CH2CO2\u2212, CH2(OH)CO2\u2212, CH3CH(OH)CO2\u2212, HCO3\u2212, CO32\u2212, CH3OCO2\u2212, C2H5OCO2\u2212, saccharin\u2212, and linoleate\u2212; and
(ii) one or more natural or modified enzymes selected from the group consisting of: laccases, peroxidases, lipoxygenases and ligninases.
60.-61. (canceled)
62. A composition according to claim 59, wherein the composition further comprises one or more enzyme mediator compounds selected from the group consisting of:
63. (canceled)
64. Use of an ionic liquid as defined in claim 1 for the removal of chewing gum residues from substrates.