(19)

(11)

EP 0 868 647 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 07.10.1998 Bulletin 1998/41 (21) Application number: 96945637.0 (22) Date of filing: 16.12.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  H01C 1/ 01( . ) G01D 5/ 165( . ) H01C 10/ 00( . ) G01B 7/ 30( . ) G01D 11/ 24( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/020456 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/022847 (26.06.1997 Gazette 1997/27)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB (30) Priority: 20.12.1995 JP 19950349301 (71) Applicant: THE WHITAKER CORPORATION Wilmington, DE 19808 (US)	(72) Inventors: MIWA, Akihide Kanagawa 257 (JP) TAKAHASHI, Yoshiyuki Kanagawa 228 (JP) (74) Representative: Heinz-Schäfer, Marion, et al  AMP International Enterprises Limited Ampèrestrasse 3 9323 Steinach (SG) 9323 Steinach (SG) (CH)