A system determines a position of a rotating object in a device and controls the device according to the determined position of the rotating object. The system includes a reflecting region on the rotating object and a light source located in the device. Emitted light is emitted by the light source onto the reflecting region and reflected light is reflected off the rotating object. The reflected light has an intensity. The system also includes a detector that detects the reflected light and measures the intensity of the reflected light. The reflecting region has a feature configured to effect a change in the intensity of the reflected light as the rotating object rotates. The change in the intensity of the reflected light corresponds to a change in a signal associated with a determined position of the rotating object. The device is controlled according to the determined position of the rotating object.

An apparatus (12) for placement on the abdomen of a subject for monitoring uterine contractions. The apparatus includes a light source (16) and a light detector (18) which communicate light via a reflection surface (22) arranged facing the light source and light detector. One of the light source and light detector is fixed in position relative to the reflection surface, while the other is arranged to be displaceable relative to the reflection surface responsive to movement of the subjects abdomen caused by contractions. The movement of the moveable component is such as to cause a variation in the light intensity received at the light detector, the variation in light intensity being representative of the uterine contractions.

An apparatus (12) for placement on the abdomen of a subject for monitoring uterine contractions. The apparatus includes a light source (16) and a light detector (18) which communicate light via a reflection surface (22) arranged facing the light source and light detector. One of the light source and light detector is fixed in position relative to the reflection surface, while the other is arranged to be displaceable relative to the reflection surface responsive to movement of the subjects abdomen caused by contractions. The movement of the moveable component is such as to cause a variation in the light intensity received at the light detector, the variation in light intensity being representative of the uterine contractions.

Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands.

An opto-mechanical resonator including a waveguide formed by a plurality of first strips spaced apart from one another; and two mirrors disposed facing one another, which mirrors are optically reflective over at least part of a guide wavelength range of the waveguide. The waveguide extends between the two mirrors, and forms therewith an optically resonant cavity. At least part of the waveguide is held such that it is suspended over a substrate by at least one deformable mechanical element.

Provided is a refrigerator and control method for refrigerator and method for opening a refrigerator door. While a user is holding an object in both hands, a door may be automatically and additionally opened using another part of a body other than hands.

The invention pertains to a contactless measurement method for detecting rotation of an object over an axis coinciding with an optical axis of a probe beam. The probe beam is comprised of two monochromatic wavelengths with circular polarizations of opposite chirality, having a frequency difference for providing a heterodyne probe beam. A neutral beam splitter is provided that directs a reflected beam via a polarizer filter towards a first photodetector and that directs a transmitted beam toward a quarter wave plate attached to a rotatable object. A mirror reflects the probe beam, via the same quarter wave plate, back into the neutral beam splitter, which directs the reflected beam via a polarizer filter toward a second photodetector. The rotation is derived from the relative phase difference between the first and second photodetector signals.

An apparatus for measuring the vapour pressure of a liquid hydrocarbon sample is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sealed chamber (25) for receiving the sample. The chamber (25) is at least partially defined by a moveable element (26) such that moving the moveable element (26) alters the volume of the chamber (25). The apparatus comprises a displacement sensor (29) configured to measure a displacement of the movable element (26).

An apparatus for measuring the vapour pressure of a liquid hydrocarbon sample is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sealed chamber (25) for receiving the sample. The chamber (25) is at least partially defined by a moveable element (26) such that moving the moveable element (26) alters the volume of the chamber (25). The apparatus comprises a displacement sensor (29) configured to measure a displacement of the movable element (26).

An apparatus for determining a position and orientation of first and second rigid bodies in relation to each other. The apparatus includes a light source mounted to the first rigid body, an image sensor mounted to either the first or second rigid body and positioned in a field of light, a shadow mask mounted to either the first or second rigid body and arranged in the field of light, and a computation unit configured to calculate at least one angle by evaluating a shadow image which passes the shadow mask and is detected by the image sensor. The apparatus may include a mechanical constraint mounted to the first and second rigid bodies that defines a fixed distance between the first and second rigid bodies, is stationary in relation to one of the first or second rigid body, and is variably inclinable in relation to the other.