G
SECTION G — PHYSICS
 G

Note(s)

  1. In this section, the following term is used with the meaning indicated:
    • "variable" (as a noun) means a feature or property (e.g., a dimension, a physical condition such as temperature, a quality such as density or colour) which, in respect of a particular entity (e.g., an object, a quantity of a substance, a beam of light) and at a particular instant, is capable of being measured; the variable may change, so that its numerical expression may assume different values at different times, in different conditions or in individual cases, but may be constant in respect of a particular entity in certain conditions or for practical purposes (e.g., the length of a bar may be regarded as constant for many purposes).
  2. Attention is drawn to the definitions of terms or expressions used, appearing in the notes of several of the classes in this section, in particular those of "measuring" in class G01 and "control" and "regulation" in class G05.
  3. Classification in this section may present more difficulty than in other sections, because the distinction between different fields of use rests to a considerable extent on differences in the intention of the user rather than on any constructional differences or differences in the manner of use, and because the subjects dealt with are often in effect systems or combinations, which have features or parts in common, rather than "things", which are readily distinguishable as a whole. For example, information (e.g., a set of figures) may be displayed for the purpose of education or advertising (G09), for enabling the result of a measurement to be known (G01), for signalling the information to a distant point or for giving information which has been signalled from a distant point (G08). The words used to describe the purpose depend on features that may be irrelevant to the form of the apparatus concerned, for example, such features as the desired effect on the person who sees the display, or whether the display is controlled from a remote point. Again, a device which responds to some change in a condition, e.g., in the pressure of a fluid, may be used, without modification of the device itself, to give information about the pressure (G01L) or about some other condition linked to the pressure (another subclass of class G01, e.g., G01K for temperature), to make a record of the pressure or of its occurrence (G07C), to give an alarm (G08B), or to control another apparatus (G05).

    The classification scheme is intended to enable things of a similar nature (as indicated above) to be classified together. It is therefore particularly necessary for the real nature of any technical subject to be decided before it can be properly classified.

  
INSTRUMENTS
 G12
INSTRUMENT DETAILS
 G12B
DETAILS OF INSTRUMENTS, OR COMPARABLE DETAILS OF OTHER APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
 G12B

Note(s)

  1. This subclass covers only details which are not restricted to measuring instruments or to any other apparatus covered by a single class.
  2. This subclass does not cover:
  3. Attention is drawn to the Notes following the title of section G, especially as regards to the definition of the term "measuring" in Note (2) following the title of class G01.
 G12B
Subclass index
SENSITIVE ELEMENTS PRODUCING MOVEMENT OR DISPLACEMENT; DETAILS OF MOVEMENTS 1/00; 3/00
ADJUSTING POSITION OR ATTITUDE; COMPENSATING FOR TEMPERATURE EFFECTS 5/00; 7/00
HOUSING, SUPPORTING; INDICATING ELEMENTS 9/00; 11/00
CALIBRATING 13/00
COOLING; SCREENING 15/00; 17/00
DETAILS OF APPARATUS USING SCANNING-PROBE TECHNIQUES 21/00
P:40 G12B 1/00
Sensitive elements capable of producing movement or displacement for purposes not limited to measurement; Associated transmission mechanisms therefor
P:60 G12B 3/00
Details of movements not otherwise provided for (details of apparatus using scanning-probe techniques G12B 21/00; damping of shock or vibrations in general F16F; avoiding out-of-balance forces F16F 15/00; testing balance G01M)  [1,7]
P:50 G12B 5/00
Adjusting position or attitude, e.g. level, of instruments or other apparatus, or of parts thereof (levels per se G01C 9/00); Compensating for the effects of tilting or acceleration, e.g. for optical apparatus
P:30 G12B 7/00
Compensating for the effects of temperature (by cooling G12B 15/00)
P:90 G12B 9/00
Housing or supporting of instruments or other apparatus
P:70 G12B 11/00
Indicating elements; Illumination thereof
P:10 G12B 13/00
Calibrating of instruments or apparatus (calibrating of measuring instruments G01)
P:20 G12B 15/00
Cooling (by refrigeration, e.g. circulation of refrigerated fluid, F25D; heat-exchange or heat-transfer details of general application F28F)
P:80 G12B 17/00
Screening (insulation or other protection of buildings E04B; emergency protection of apparatus in general F16P 7/00; in connection with acoustic waves G10K 11/00; in connection with nuclear radiation G21F)
 G12B 17/00

Note(s)

This group covers:

  • the protection of instruments or other apparatus from external radiation or other influences;
  • the prevention of the emission of undesirable radiation or other influences by instruments or other apparatus.

P:0 G12B 21/00
Details of apparatus using scanning-probe techniques  [7]
 G12B 21/00

Note(s)

  1. In this group the following expression is used with the meaning indicated: [7]
    • "probe" means an interfacing device, e.g. a needle with a sharp tip, defining a transducing zone where an interaction, e.g. generation of a tunnelling current when in close proximity to a surface, is supported. [7]
  2. Attention is drawn to the Notes following the titles of class B81 and subclass B81B relating to "micro-structural devices" and "micro-structural systems" and the Notes following the title of subclass B82B relating to "nano-structures". [7]
  3. The following is a list of places where specific applications using scanning-probe techniques are provided for: [7]
    B82B 3/00Manufacture or treatment of nano-structures  [7] 
    C23CSurface treatment of metallic material  [7] 
    G01BDimensional measurement  [7] 
    G01N 13/10Investigating or analysing surface structures in atomic ranges  [7] 
    G11B 9/00, 
    G11B 11/00, 
    G11B 13/00Recording or reproducing information  [7] 
    H01J 37/00Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge  [7] 
    H01LProcesses or apparatus adapted for the treatment of semiconductors or solid state devices  [7]