(19)

(11)

EP 0 896 656 A1

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 17.02.1999 Bulletin 1999/07 (21) Application number: 96940306.0 (22) Date of filing: 14.11.1996

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01B 5/ 00( . ) B23Q 17/ 09( . ) G01B 5/ 004( . ) G01B 21/ 04( . ) B23Q 15/ 00( . ) B25J 9/ 10( . ) G01B 21/ 00( . ) G05B 19/ 401( . ) (86) International application number: PCT/US1996/017778 (87) International publication number: WO 1997/018436 (22.05.1997 Gazette 1997/22)

(84) Designated Contracting States: DE FR GB (30) Priority: 14.11.1995 US 19950006693P (71) Applicant: Lau, Kam C. Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (US)	(72) Inventor: Lau, Kam C. Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (US) (74) Representative: Kehl, Günther, Dipl.-Phys.  Patentanwaltskanzlei Günther Kehl Friedrich-Herschel-Strasse 9 81679 München 81679 München (DE)