All The Claims

1. A method comprising:
making a measurement using a sensor disposed at a location, the measurement corresponding to a parameter related to the location;
generating a signal correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement;
applying the signal to an actuator such that that the actuator perturbs an optical fiber disposed in vicinity of the location, based on the signal, the optical fiber and the actuator arranged in proximity to each other; and
extracting a value of the parameter, at an interrogator coupled to the optical fiber, in response to receiving an optical signal from perturbing the optical fiber.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the value of the parameter includes extracting a value of the parameter in response to receiving an optical signal backscattered from perturbing the optical fiber.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein perturbing the optical fiber includes perturbing a fiber Bragg grating disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the location.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein perturbing the optical fiber includes perturbing a non-wavelength selective in-line mirror disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the location.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein perturbing the non-wavelength selective in-line mirror includes perturbing an in-line connector of the optical fiber in vicinity of the location or an in-line reflective material coated fiber splice of the optical fiber in vicinity of the location.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein perturbing the optical fiber and extracting the value of the parameter at the interrogator includes using intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers as a mode of interrogation from fiber Bragg gratings placed apart in the optical fiber.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein perturbing the optical fiber and extracting the value of the parameter at the interrogator includes using Fizeau sensor strings in the optical fiber.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the value of the parameter at the interrogator includes using a second optical fiber to transmit an optical signal from perturbing the optical fiber to a detection unit of the interrogator.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter includes one of a chemical concentration, a pH, a temperature, or a pressure.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is in contact with the optical fiber.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the actuator is at a distance from the optical fiber.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the value of the parameter includes using an interferometric interrogator.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes using a number of additional sensors disposed along the length of the optical fiber, each sensor spaced apart from the other sensors of the number of sensors, for selected ones of the number of sensors:
making a measurement using the respective sensor, the measurement corresponding to the parameter;
generating a signal correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement;
applying the signal to an actuator coupled to the respective sensor such that the actuator perturbs the optical fiber, based on the signal, the optical fiber and the actuator arranged in proximity to each other; and
extracting a value of the parameter, at the interrogator in response to receiving an optical signal from the perturbing of the optical fiber.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the signal correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement includes generating a difference signal as the difference of the measurement using the sensor and a reference.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein extracting the value of the parameter at an interrogator includes measuring frequency based on coherent Rayleigh scattering using interferometry, measuring dynamic changes in attenuation, or measuring a dynamic shift of Brillioun frequency.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal to the actuator such that that the actuator perturbs the optical fiber includes encoding digital data onto the optical fiber through vibration or strain of the optical fiber.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein encoding digital data onto the optical fiber includes using a phase-shift keying communication scheme.
18. A method comprising:
making a measurement using a first circuit of a sensor disposed at a location, the measurement generating, from the first circuit, a first signal having a frequency based on a parameter related to the location;
using a second circuit of the sensor disposed at the location, the second circuit generating a reference signal having a reference frequency unaffected by the parameter;
mixing the first signal and the reference signal, generating a measurement signal having a measurement frequency;
applying the measurement signal to an actuator such that that the actuator perturbs an optical fiber disposed in vicinity of the location, based on the measurement signal, the optical fiber and the actuator arranged in proximity to each other; and
extracting a value of the parameter, at an interrogator coupled to the optical fiber, in response to receiving an optical signal from perturbing the optical fiber.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein extracting the value of the parameter includes extracting a value of the parameter in response to receiving an optical signal backscattered from perturbing the optical fiber.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein extracting the value of the parameter at the interrogator includes extracting, from the optical signal, a characteristic of the measurement frequency with the measurement frequency equal to a difference between the first frequency and the reference frequency.
21. The method of claim 18, wherein parameter includes one of a chemical concentration, a pH, a temperature, or a pressure.
22. The method of claim 18, wherein making the measurement using the first circuit includes using a circuit having a resonating element that has a complex impedance that changes based on pressure.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein using the second circuit includes using a circuit having a resonating element that has a complex impedance, the resonating element of the second circuit arranged to be unaffected by the pressure that changes the complex impedance of the resonating element of the first circuit.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the resonating element of the first circuit includes a first quartz crystal coupled to pressure external to the sensor such that the first quartz crystal changes frequency based on the external pressure, and the resonating element of the second circuit includes a second quartz crystal not coupled to the external pressure such that the second quartz crystal does not change frequency based on the external pressure.
25. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes using the optical fiber to determine temperature at the location through a distributed temperature sensing measurement.
26. The method of claim 18, wherein extracting the value of the parameter at an interrogator includes measuring frequency based on coherent Rayleigh scattering using interferometry.
27. The method of claim 18, wherein extracting the value of the parameter at an interrogator includes using one or more of a fiber Bragg grating disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the location, a non-wavelength selective in-line mirror disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the location, intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers as a mode of interrogation from fiber Bragg gratings placed apart in the optical fiber, Fizeau sensor strings in the optical fiber, or a second optical fiber to transmit an optical signal from perturbing the optical fiber to a detection unit of the interrogator.
28. A system comprising:
a sensor operable to provide a measurement corresponding to a parameter at a location;
a circuit coupled to the sensor, the circuit operable to generate a signal correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement;
an actuator coupled to the circuit to receive the signal and operable to generate a perturbation to an optical fiber based on the signal with the actuator arranged in proximity to the optical fiber; and
an interrogator having the capability to couple to the optical fiber to receive an optical signal from the perturbation of the optical fiber and to extract a value of the parameter in response to receiving the optical signal from the perturbation.
29. The system of claim 28, wherein the parameter includes one of a chemical concentration, a pH, a temperature, or a pressure.
30. The system of claim 28, wherein the actuator is operable to generate the perturbation to the optical fiber with the actuator in contact with the optical fiber.
31. The system of claim 28, wherein the actuator is operable to generate the perturbation to the optical fiber with the actuator at a distance from the optical fiber.
32. The system of claim 28, wherein the system includes a number of additional sensors deployable along the length of the optical fiber, each additional sensor spaced apart from the other sensors of the number of sensors, each additional sensor having an associated circuit and actuator to perturb the optical fiber.
33. The system of claim 28, wherein the circuit includes a measurement circuit and a reference to generate the signal correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement as a difference of the measurement using the sensor and the reference.
34. The system of claim 28, wherein the circuit includes a measurement circuit and a reference circuit, the measurement circuit having a resonating element that has a complex impedance that changes based on pressure, and the reference circuit having a resonating element that has a complex impedance, the resonating element of the reference circuit arranged to be unaffected by the pressure that changes the complex impedance of the resonating element of the measurement circuit.
35. The system of claim 34, wherein the resonating element of the measurement circuit includes a first quartz crystal coupled to pressure external to the sensor such that the first quartz crystal changes frequency based on the external pressure, and the resonating element of the reference circuit includes a second quartz crystal not coupled to the external pressure such that the second quartz crystal does not change frequency based on the external pressure.
36. The system of claim 28, wherein the system includes a distributed temperature sensing arrangement using the optical fiber to determine temperature at the location.
37. The system of claim 28, wherein the circuit or the actuator includes an encoder to encode digital data correlated to the parameter in response to the measurement such that the digital data is encoded onto the optical fiber.
38. The system of claim 37, wherein the encoder is arranged to implement a phase-shift keying communication scheme.
39. The system of claim 28, wherein the interrogator is structured to measure frequency based on coherent Rayleigh scattering using interferometry, to measure dynamic changes in attenuation, to measure a dynamic shift of Brillioun frequency, or combinations thereof.
40. The system of claim 28, wherein the system includes the optical fiber structured having an arrangement selected from a fiber Bragg grating disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the actuator, a non-wavelength selective in-line mirror disposed in the optical fiber in vicinity of the actuator, intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometers as a mode of interrogation from fiber Bragg gratings placed apart in the optical fiber such that each fiber Bragg grating is in vicinity of a respective actuator, Fizeau sensor strings in the optical fiber, a second optical fiber to transmit an optical signal from a perturbation of the optical fiber to a detection unit of the interrogator, or combinations thereof.

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 hybrid vehicle comprising:
an internal combustion engine;
a first drive shaft which transmits a driving force of the internal combustion engine;
a generator connected to the first drive shaft;
a motor;
a second drive shaft which transmits the driving force of the motor to wheels; and
an engagingdisengaging means which implements engagementdisengagement between the second drive shaft and the first drive shaft,
wherein the motor includes a first rotor having a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a circumferential direction, a second rotor which is disposed coaxially with the first rotor and provided relatively rotationally with respect to the first rotor and which has a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in the circumferential direction, and a relative rotational force generating means which generates a driving force for relatively rotating the first rotor and the second rotor by a working fluid, one rotor is relatively rotated with respect to the other rotor through the intermediary of the relative rotational force generating means to change the phase difference between the two rotors thereby to allow the intensity of a resultant magnetic flux of the permanent magnets of the two rotors to be changed, and the phase difference between the two rotors is balanced at a predetermined phase difference which causes the intensity of the resultant magnetic flux to be lower than a maximum intensity by a magnetic force acting between the permanent magnets of the first rotor and the permanent magnets of the second rotor in a state in which the relative rotational force generating means stops generating the driving force,
the engagingdisengaging device is a means which is operated by a working fluid, and
the hybrid vehicle further comprises an electrically-operated first pump provided to be able to supply a working fluid to the relative rotational force generating means and the engagingdisengaging means, a second pump which is a mechanical pump driven by the internal combustion engine or an electrically-operated pump and which is provided to be able to supply a working fluid to the engagingdisengaging device, and a supply switching means for selectively switching a source of supply of the working fluid to the engagingdisengaging means to either the first pump or the second pump.
2. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:
a malfunction detecting means for detecting a malfunction of the first pump,
wherein the supply switching means switches the supply source to the second pump to supply the working fluid to the engagingdisengaging means in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects a malfunction of the first pump, and switches to the first pump to supply the working fluid to the engagingdisengaging means in the case where no malfunction is detected.
3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising an engagingdisengaging control means which controls the supply of the working fluid to the engagingdisengaging means from the second pump in order to set the engagingdisengaging means to an engaged state in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects a malfunction of the first pump while the hybrid vehicle is traveling.
4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second pump is a mechanical pump which is connected to a third drive shaft such that the third drive shaft is interlocked with the first drive shaft, through the intermediary of an electromagnetic clutch, and the hybrid vehicle further comprises an electromagnetic clutch control means and sets the electromagnetic clutch to the engaged state in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects a malfunction of the first pump or sets the electromagnetic clutch to a disengaged state in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects no malfunction.
5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second pump is an electrically-operated pump driven by a motor for driving an accessory device.
6. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the second pump is connected to the drive shaft of the motor for driving an accessory device through the intermediary of the electromagnetic clutch, and the hybrid vehicle further comprises an electromagnetic clutch controller which sets the electromagnetic clutch to the engaged state in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects a malfunction of the first pump and sets the electromagnetic clutch to the disengaged state in the case where the malfunction detecting means detects no malfunction.

1. A string type air damper comprising:
a cylinder formed in a tubular shape, defining a guide hole at one end portion thereof;
a monolithic piston having a string member portion, which moves in the cylinder;
a helical spring for biasing the piston toward the other end portion of the cylinder; and
the string member portion guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole,
wherein the string member portion has a flat belt shape,
wherein the guide hole of the cylinder has a flat opening and a smooth arcuate face continuing to a wide width edge of the opening so that the belt-shaped string member is bendable and guidable along the arcuate face,
wherein the string member portion having the belt shape is bent and guided along the arcuate face of the guide hole, and
wherein the cylinder comprises a non-removable closed end and the guide hole is formed in the non-removable closed end of the cylinder.
2. A string type air damper comprising:
a cylinder formed in a tubular shape, defining a guide hole at one end portion thereof;
a monolithic piston having a string member portion, which moves in the cylinder;
a helical spring for biasing the piston toward the other end portion of the cylinder; and
the string member portion guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole,
wherein the string member portion has a flat belt shape,
wherein the guide hole of the cylinder has a flat opening and a smooth arcuate face continuing to a wide width edge of the opening so that the belt-shaped string member is bendable and guidable along the arcuate face,
the string member portion having the belt shape is bent and guided along the arcuate face of the guide hole, and
wherein the string member portion passes through a non-removable closed end of the cylinder.
3. A string type air damper comprising: a cylinder formed in a tubular shape, defining a guide hole at one end portion thereof; a piston, which moves in the cylinder; a helical spring for biasing the piston toward the other end portion of the cylinder; and a string member guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole, wherein: the piston and the string member are integrally molded; the string member branches into a plurality of portions and connects with the piston at a base end portion thereof; the portions come together at a forward end portion of the string member; and the plurality of portions of the string member connect with different positions on the piston.
4. The string type air damper according to claim 3, further comprising an end cap attached to the other end portion of the cylinder.
5. The string type air damper according to claim 3, further comprising a mount integrally formed on the piston for receiving an end portion of the helical compression spring.
6. A string type air damper comprising: a cylinder formed in a tubular shape; a piston, which moves in the cylinder; a helical spring for biasing the piston toward one end portion of the cylinder; a guide cap attached to the other end portion of the cylinder and defining a guide hole; and, a string member guided from inside of the cylinder to outside thereof through the guide hole, wherein: the guide cap and the string member are integrally molded; the string member is hooked to the piston within the cylinder and is guided to the outside thereof; the string member branches into a plurality of portions; a base end portion of the string member is connected to the guide cap; and the plurality of portions of the string member are connected to different positions on the guide cap.
7. The string type air damper according to claim 6, wherein: the plurality of portions comes together at a forward end portion of the string member; and the portions are hooked at the piston.
8. The string type air damper according to claim 6, further comprising a mount integrally formed on the piston for receiving an end portion of the helical compression spring.

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 treating biological samples, comprising:
positioning a first slide support into a treatment chamber of an antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a first microscope slide with a first biological sample disposed thereon into the treatment chamber;
positioning a second slide support into the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a second microscope slide with a second biological sample disposed thereon into the treatment chamber;
treating the first biological sample by applying an antigen recovery buffer to the first biological sample, heating the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample to a desired temperature for a desired period of time to recover antigens of the first biological sample, and applying additional reagents of a treatment protocol for the first biological sample;
treating the second biological sample by applying an antigen recovery buffer to the second biological sample, heating the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample to a desired temperature for a desired period of time to recover antigens of the second biological sample, and applying additional reagents of a treatment protocol for the second biological sample; and
removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber,
wherein the step of removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber comprises the steps of:
moving the slide support out of the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus so as to position the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol outside of the treatment chamber; and
removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the slide support element.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
positioning the first biological sample into a first reaction compartment and positioning the second biological sample into a second reaction compartment,
wherein the first reaction compartment is separate from the second reaction compartment.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of positioning the first biological sample into the first reaction compartment, the first microscope slide defines a portion of the first reaction compartment, and wherein the step of positioning the second biological sample into the second reaction compartment, the second microscope slide defines a portion of the second reaction compartment.
4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of positioning the first biological sample into the first reaction compartment, the first slide support element defines a portion of the first reaction compartment, and wherein the step of positioning the second biological sample into the second reaction compartment, the second slide support element defines a portion of the second reaction compartment.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment chamber has at least a first reaction compartment and a second reaction compartment which is separate from the first reaction compartment, wherein the step of moving the first slide support into the treatment chamber further comprises inserting the first slide support element into the treatment chamber so as to position the first biological sample in the first reaction compartment, and wherein the step of moving the second slide support into the treatment chamber further comprises inserting the second slide support element into the treatment chamber so as to position the second biological sample in the second reaction compartment.
6. The method of claim 2 further comprising venting the first and second reaction compartments to release pressure, steam, or vapors during the heating of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample.
7. The method of claim 5 further comprising venting the first and second reaction compartments to release pressure, steam, or vapors during the heating of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating steps further comprise heating the first and second microscope slides such that the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample attain a temperature of from about 90\xb0 C. to about 100\xb0 C.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the heating steps further comprise heating the first and second microscope slides such that the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample attain a temperature of from about 85\xb0 C. to about 95\xb0 C.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of treating the first and second biological samples are independent of each other.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample is aqueous.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample is aqueous and has a boiling point greater than 100\xb0 C.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample has a boiling point greater than 100\xb0 C.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample is non-aqueous.
15. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample and the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample comprises a glycol.
16. The method of claim 10 wherein the glycol comprises ethylene glycol.
17. The method of claim 10 wherein the glycol comprises propylene glycol.
18. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
positioning the first slide support into the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a third microscope slide with a third biological sample disposed thereon while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber.
19. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
positioning a third slide support into the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a third microscope slide with a third biological sample disposed thereon while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber.
20. A method of treating biological samples, comprising:
positioning a first slide support into a treatment chamber of an antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a first microscope slide with a first biological sample disposed thereon into the treatment chamber;
treating the first biological sample by applying an antigen recovery buffer to the first biological sample, heating the antigen recovery buffer applied to the first biological sample to a desired temperature for a desired period of time to recover antigens of the first biological sample, and applying additional reagents of a treatment protocol; and
positioning a second slide support into a treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus to position a second microscope slide with a second biological sample disposed thereon into the treatment chamber while the first biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber.
21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:
treating the second biological sample by applying an antigen recovery buffer to the second biological sample, heating the antigen recovery buffer applied to the second biological sample to a desired temperature for a desired period of time to recover antigens of the second biological sample, and applying additional reagents of another treatment protocol; and
removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber while the other biological sample continues to be treated in the treatment chamber, wherein the step of removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the treatment chamber comprises the steps of:
moving the slide support out of the treatment chamber of the antigen recovery and staining apparatus so as to position the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol outside of the treatment chamber; and
removing the microscope slide with the biological sample that has completed the treatment protocol from the slide support element.