Abstract:
A process of forming a non-optically detectable authentication marking (210,320, 410,535) in a diamond (200,300). Authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is formed adjacent the outer surface of an article formed from a diamond material having intrinsic optical centers. Method includes the step of applying an image of predesigned authentication marking(210,320,410,535) to a region (201,310,530) of a diamond (200,300) at or adjacent the surface of the diamond (200,300) by way of a direct laser writing; wherein the fluorescence background of the diamond material from intrinsic optical center is suppressed by authentication marking(210,320, 410, 535) under fluorescent imaging, such that the non-optically detectable identifiable authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is viewable against the fluorescence background at the region (201,310,530) of the diamond (200,300) where the authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is applied.
Abstract:
An image acquisition system for acquiring an image of an article, said system including an optical image acquisition device for acquiring an image of an article, wherein said article is at least partially transparent; a first light source for transmitting light through said article; a first linear polarizer and a second linear polarizer, wherein said first linear polarizer and said second linear polarizer are disposed between the optical image acquisition device and the first light source, the first linear polarizer being disposed proximal to the first light source and the second linear polarizer being disposed distal to the first light source and adjacent the optical image acquisition device; and an article support member disposed between the first linear polarizer and the second linear polarizer for supporting the article, wherein the article support member is optically transparent; wherein said first linear polarizer and said second linear polarizer are operably oriented in crossed orientations to each other such that light emitted from the first light source is substantially prevented from being received by the optical image acquisition device; and wherein upon the article being supported by the article support member, the article alters the polarization of light polarized by the first linear polarizer such that the article is optically detectable by the image acquisition device, and such that an image is acquirable by the image acquisition device comprising the article which contrasted from background against which an image of the article is acquired.
Abstract:
A process operable using a computerized system for displaying an article from a set of wearable articles or accessories, wherein the article is displayed based upon a correlation between data indicative of features of mental impression of an article and the displayed article, the computerized system including a touch sensitive input device, a processor module and a visual display module operably interconnected together via a communication link, said process including the steps of (i) entering via a touch sensitive input device a first visual representation indicative of at least a portion of a mental impression of an article, wherein the first visual representation is a two-dimensional representation in a first predetermined viewing plane; (ii) in a processor module, comparing during step (i) data derived from input of the first visual representation and a plurality of data sets each of which corresponds to and is derived from each article of a plurality of articles, wherein data sets are each derived as a two-dimensional data in said first predetermined viewing plane; an (iii) displaying on a visual display module, responsive to a predetermined threshold of correlation between the data derived from input of the first visual representation and at least one of the plurality of data sets from step (ii), a visual representation of at least a first article corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of data sets.
Abstract:
A method of forming a marking on an article (100, 202, 200, 820, 900), and an article (100, 202, 200, 820, 900) having a mark thereon. In an aspect, a mold (201, 400, 500, 600, 700), for imparting a marking includes a requisite optical element having two and a half dimensions (2.5D) to the outer surface of an article (100, 202, 200, 820, 900) formed from a ductile material (421, 720a, 720b, 720c), said mold (201, 400, 500, 600, 700) comprising: a marking surface including a micro-structure formed by an arrangement of a plurality of micro meter sized recessed or protruded entities; said entities are arranged so as to provide one or more recesses extending in a direction of from said marking surface into the mold(201, 400, 500, 600, 700); deformation and flow of the ductile material (421, 720a, 720b, 720c) into the recesses reduces lateral stresses imparted to the mold (201, 400, 500, 600, 700) adjacent the recesses, and ductile urged into the recesses forms a portion of the material from deformation of the ductile material (421, 720a, 720b, 720c) being imparted to the entities optical element having two and a half dimensions (2.5D).
Abstract:
A torque-restoring element(100) for an oscillator for a mechanical timepiece comprises a spiral spring body(110) having a number N turnings(170) with an inner terminal end(115) for engagement with a rotational inertial element via a collet(117), and an outer terminal end(125) for engagement with a stationary cock element, the said spiral spring body(110) having a width, a height and a total arc length includes a core(180a) formed from mono-crystalline silicon wafer oriented along the crystallographic axis ; and wherein the spiral spring body(110) includes at least one peripheral coating(190a) of a material having a thermal elastic constant different from that of the core(180a) of the spiral spring body(110) so as to maintain the oscillator frequency of an oscillator including the torque-restoring element(100) substantially insensitive to variations of ambient temperature.
Abstract:
A conjugate(110) comprising a nanoparticle(210) for delivery of a drug to a treatment site in the body of a subject; a drug molecule(220) releasably linked to said nanoparticle(210), wherein said drug molecule(220) has a therapeutic effect at the treatment site in the body of the subject; and a disease targeting molecule(230) releasably linked to said nanoparticle(210); wherein upon said conjugate(110) being adjacent diseased tissue(240) of a subject, said disease targeting molecule(230) retains the conjugate(110) adjacent said diseased tissue(240); said drug molecule(220) is released from said nanoparticle(110) so as to provide a therapeutic effect to said diseased tissue(240); and said disease targeting molecule(230) is subsequently released from said nanoparticle(210) such that retention of the nanoparticle(210) is released, and such that the nanoparticle(210) is dispersible from said diseased tissue(240).
Abstract:
An apparatus (100) for coating at least a first plurality of articles (130), each article thereof having at least a first surface (140) to be coated is disclosed. The apparatus (100) includes an emission source (120) for directing emission elements (155) towards the first surfaces (140) of the plurality of articles (130), at least one support member for supporting the first plurality of articles (130), wherein support member (110) supports the first plurality of articles (130) such that the first surface (140) is exposed to the path of emission (155) from said emission source (120), and a drive assembly (160) for moving the support member (110) such that the first plurality of articles (130) is moveable with respect to the path of emission (155) from said emission source (120).
Abstract:
A method of forming a multi-level component having a first surface portion a first level and a second surface portion of a second level different to the level of the first level, said method including the steps of forming at least one arrangement of micro trenches or an arrangement of micro pillars having a micro trench therebetween in a predetermined arrangement in a mask material by one or more lithography processes, wherein one or more of said micro trenches have a first aspect ratio and one or more of said micro trenches have a second aspect ratio different from said first aspect ratio; applying one or more etching processes to a surface of a component upon which said mask is applied, wherein the component is etched by an aspect ratio dependent etch (ARDE) process so as to form an arrangement of micro trenches and micro pillars between adjacent micro trenches; wherein one or more micro trenches corresponding to the micro trenches of the first aspect ratio is etched a first level from said surface of the component, and wherein one or more micro trenches corresponding to the micro trenches of the second aspect ratio is etched at a second level from said surface of the component and at different level to said fist level; and (iii) removing said arrangement of micro pillars from said component by a removal process; wherein upon removal of said micro pillars a first surface portion is formed at said first level and a second surface portion is formed at said second level, wherein the second surface portion is at a different level to that of the of the first surface portion.
Abstract:
A process of forming a non-optically detectable authentication marking (110), includes the step of: applying a marking at a surface of a diamond (200) using a focused ion beam (FIB) writing process so as to provide a non-optically detectable authentication marking (110) which is formed by alteration in the optical characteristics of a portion of the diamond material at the outer surface of the diamond to form a marked portion; wherein the marking is optically invisible, and wherein the marking is viewable by an imaging method which provides an observable contrast between the portion of the diamond having altered optical characteristics and the non-marked portion of the diamond. The marking process can assist in the prevention of the counterfeiting of precious articles, and be of assistance in the incident of theft. A marking, a diamond, a process of viewing a marking on a diamond are further disclosed.
Abstract:
A process of forming a non-optically detectable authentication marking (210,320, 410,535) in a diamond (200,300). Authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is formed adjacent the outer surface of an article formed from a diamond material having intrinsic optical centers. Method includes the step of applying an image of predesigned authentication marking(210,320,410,535) to a region (201,310,530) of a diamond (200,300) at or adjacent the surface of the diamond (200,300) by way of a direct laser writing; wherein the fluorescence background of the diamond material from intrinsic optical center is suppressed by authentication marking(210,320, 410, 535) under fluorescent imaging, such that the non-optically detectable identifiable authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is viewable against the fluorescence background at the region (201,310,530) of the diamond (200,300) where the authentication marking (210,320,410,535) is applied.