(19)

(11)

EP 2 044 448 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 25.09.2008 (43) Date of publication: 08.04.2009 Bulletin 2009/15 (21) Application number: 07797682.7 (22) Date of filing: 23.05.2007

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G01R 27/08(2006.01) G01N 27/26(2006.01) G01N 17/04(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2007/069533 (87) International publication number: WO 2008/008567 (17.01.2008 Gazette 2008/03)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK RS (30) Priority: 12.07.2006 US 456957 13.07.2006 US 457155 13.07.2006 US 457153 13.07.2006 US 457156 (71) Applicant: Pepperl & Fuchs, Inc. Twinsburg, OH 44087 (US)	(72) Inventors: POIRIER, Denis Cleveland Heights, OH 44121 (US) ROOLF, Wessels Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 (US) HLADKY, Karel Fallowfield, Manchester, M14 6BF (US) (74) Representative: Muttock, Neil John  Hillgate Patent Services Parchment House 13 Northburgh Street London EC1V 0JP London EC1V 0JP (GB)