Abstract: A method for detecting the presence or absence of an audio signal in a communications system in which an audio signal is encoded by a delta modulation encoding algorithm, and in which a step size parameter is adapted according to characteristics of the encoded signal, the method comprising determining based on the magnitude of the step size parameter whether the encoded signal represents audio activity, and adapting the operation of the communication system based on that determination.

Abstract: A peripheral device having: an interface for connection to a host device; a memory for storing software for use by the host device for operating with the peripheral device; and a processor for controlling the operation of the device such that the device has two operating modes over the interface: a first mode in which it operates as a storage device storing the said software and a second mode in which it operates as a device for providing other functionality to a device connected to it via the interface by means of the software; the peripheral device being configured so that on connection of the interface to a host device it operates in the first mode and so that it subsequently operates in the second mode.

Abstract: A method for estimating the distance between a transmitter and a receiver, the transmitter being arranged to transmit a signal as a series of bursts, and the carrier frequency of each burst being set according to a predetermined sequence, the method comprising: forming a first series comprising the measured differences between the phases of successive bursts as received at the receiver; forming a second series comprising estimated differences between the phases of successive bursts as received at a supposed time difference between the transmitter and the receiver; and determining the quality of fit between the first series and the second series.

Abstract: The suggested plant for decomposition of water by electrolysis permits to convert mechanical and heat energy into electrical and chemical energy as it contains an electrolyzer comprising: a body installed on a shaft connected to a drive and incorporating ducts for supplying electrolyte solution and extracting the electrolysis products as well as an electrolyte solution drain duct; short-circuited electrodes—one electrode installed on the shaft and the other one formed by the internal surface of the body; and a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A transmitter for transmitting signals, comprising: a modulator for modulating a data signal, the modulator being capable of modulating the data signal according to any of two or more modulation schemes to form a modulated signal; an amplification arrangement for amplifying the modulated signal with any of two or more levels of gain; and a control system configured to interdependently select one of the modulation schemes and one of the levels of gain, and to control the modulator to adopt the selected modulation scheme and to control the amplifier to adopt the selected level of gain.

Abstract: A method for generating random data, the method comprising repeatedly performing a series of operations, and the series of operations comprising processing a seed value to generate a resulting value for use as the seed value in a subsequent performance of the series of operations and to generate output random data; wherein the series of operations also comprises: determining whether a predetermined amount of new truly random data is available; and if such data is available, modifying the generation of at least the resulting value in dependence on the new truly random data.

Abstract: A radio frequency amplification stage including an amplifier for receiving an input signal to be amplified and a power supply voltage; and a power supply voltage stage for supplying said power supply voltage, including a circuit for providing a reference signal representing the envelope of the input signal; a circuit for selecting one of a plurality of supply voltage levels in dependence on the reference signal; and a circuit for generating an adjusted selected power supply voltage, including an ac amplifier for amplifying a difference between the reference signal and one of the selected supply voltage level or the adjusted selected supply voltage level, and a summer for summing the amplified difference with the selected supply voltage to thereby generate the adjusted supply voltage.

Abstract: A method for transferring data from a first switch to a second switch selectively by line-switching or by packet-switching as wellas to a switch for carrying out the method. Data packets are thereby first transferred packet-switched through a packet-switching network to the second switch. With the presence of a corresponding control signal a line-switching connection is established from the first switch to the second switch and the data are then transferred through this connection. Where applicable a renewed changeover to a packet-switching transfer is carried out. A flexible packet-switching or line-switching data transfer linked with dynamic costs between the junctions of a telecommunications network is enabled.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the presence of persons within a zone, the system comprising: one or more remotely detectable markers, each capable of being carried by a person; a first sensor arrangement capable of identifying the presence of the body of at least one person within the zone; a second sensor arrangement capable of identifying the presence of at least one marker within the zone; and a processing arrangement responsive to the first sensor arrangement and the second sensor arrangement to generate an alarm signal if the first sensor arrangement identifies the presence of a body without the second sensor arrangement identifying a marker corresponding in a first predetermined manner to that body.

Abstract: An embodiment provides a method of constructing a cellular structure having nodes therein comprising: providing at least one truss layer comprised of at least one truss unit, at least one of the truss units being comprised of truss members; providing at least one panel in mechanical communication with the at least one truss unit of the at least one truss layer, the mechanical communication defines contact regions wherein the at least one truss unit is coupled to the at least one panel; the nodes being defined as intersections existing among any of the truss members and the nodes also being defined by the contact regions; providing at least one node pin, the at least one node pin spanning between two desired the nodes; and diffusion bonding at least one of the truss layer to the at least one panel.

Abstract: A method for reading data stored in a multiple bit memory cell, the memory cell comprising a switch located within an array of switches arranged in columns and rows, each switch having a control node and first and second switched nodes between which the flow of current is dependent on the voltage applied to the control node, wherein each row has a word line connected to the control nodes of the switches of that row, each column comprises only one switch from each row, and each column has first, second and third bit lines connectable to one of the switched nodes of each switch of that column to define the stored data, the method comprising: fixing the voltage of the second bit line of the switch and reading data from the first and third bit lines, and subsequently: fixing the voltage of the first bit line of the switch and reading data from the second and third bit lines.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer useable medium that provides, among other things, a standardized test protocol for screening and evaluation of attentional impairment using EEG data. Further, the method, apparatus, and computer program product enhances existing psychological, behavioral, and physiological EEG data acquisition systems by introducing a sequential stochastic model procedure, and an intelligent data interpretation component capable of assessing EEG inconsistencies associated attentional impairments. Potential users of this product will be any person or organization that diagnoses or treats persons with attentional or cognitive impairments. The method can be used for initial screening and diagnosis of disorders associated with impaired attention, such as ADHD, as well as for treatment and evaluation of the effects of treatments, such as medication or additional therapies.

Abstract: Frequency offset estimation apparatus for estimating the offset from a predetermined centre frequency of an input signal carrying a plurality of frequency shifted symbols, the apparatus comprising: a demodulator for demodulating the input signal to estimate the symbols; a first filter for forming a first estimate of the offset by determining the average of a first predetermined number of the last maxima and minima of the instantaneous frequency difference between the input signal and a signal at the centre frequency; a second filter for forming a second estimate of the offset by determining the average of the values of the instantaneous frequency difference between the input signal at the centre frequency associated with the estimation by the demodulator of those of the symbols having the greatest positive and negative frequency shifts; and selector for selecting the first estimate or the second estimate as an output estimate of the frequency error.

Abstract: A mixer comprising a pair of low frequency mixer inputs, a pair of high frequency mixer inputs, a pair of mixer outputs, four switching units, each switching unit comprising a low frequency switching unit input, a high frequency switching unit input, a switching unit output, a node connected via a high pass filter to the respective high frequency switching unit input and via a low pass filter to the respective low frequency switching unit input and a switching device arranged to provide an output at the respective switching unit output in dependence on the voltage at the respective node, and comprising a first feedback loop responsive to the voltage at the first low frequency mixer input and arranged to regulate the current through the outputs of the first and second ones of the switching units so that the total current through the outputs of the first and second ones of the switching units is substantially proportional to the voltage at the first low frequency mixer input and a second feedback loop responsiv

Abstract: A spectral filtering apparatus and method is presented, which enables the functions of hyperspectral imaging to be performed with increased speed, simplicity, and performance that are required for commercial products. The apparatus includes a photosensitive array having a plurality of photosensitive elements such that different subsections of photosensitive elements of the array receive light of a different wavelength range of a characteristic spectrum of a target, and output electronics combines signals of at least two photosensitive elements in a subsection of the array and outputs the combined signal as a measure of the optical energy within a bandwidth of interest of the characteristic spectrum.

Abstract: A brake actuator includes an annular housing (10b) having first and second opposite radial faces (A and B). Cavities are formed in the housing (10b), some opening onto face (A) and some onto radial face (B). Two pistons (16) are disposed in each of the cavities and are movable under the influence of fluid pressure exerted from within the respective cavities to a braking position where the pistons (16) extend axially away from the cavity. The piston (16) bear against a backing plate of respective brake pads (68) forcing the brake pads (68) against brake discs (54 and 56). By providing cavities on both faces (A and B) of the housing (10b), an actuator can simultaneously apply brake pads to two spaced apart rotating discs (54 and 56). A plurality of actuators can be coupled together to act on a plurality of axially spaced apart brake discs to form a multi-pad multi-brake system.

Abstract: The invention relates to thermoplastic moulding materials containing A) between 20 and 97 wt. % of a thermoplastic polyester; B) between 1 and 40 wt. % of a phosphinic acid salt and/or a diphosphinic acid salt and/or the polymers thereof, constituent B) having an average particle size (value d50) which is smaller than 10 ?m; C) between 1 and 30 wt. % of a nitrogenated flameproofing agent; D) between 0 and 5 wt. % of at least one ester or amide of saturated or unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acids having between 10 and 40 C atoms and aliphatic saturated alcohols or amines having between 2 and 40 C atoms; and E) between 0 and 60 wt. % of other additives. The total weight percent of constituents A) to E) amounts to 100%.

Abstract: Catalysts or carriers which consist essentially of monoclinic zirconium dioxide are prepared by pecipitation of zirconium salts with ammonia, by adding a zirconyl nitrate or zirconyl chloride solution to an aqueous ammonia solution at a decreasing pH from 14 to 6 and drying, calcining and pelletizing the product.

Abstract: A method for transferring data from a first switch to a second switch selectively by line-switching or by packet-switching as well as to a switch for carrying out the method. Data packets are thereby first transferred packet-switched through a packet-switching network to the second switch. With the presence of a corresponding control signal a line-switching connection is established from the first switch to the second switch and the data are then transferred through this connection. Where applicable a renewed change over to a packet-switching transfer is carried out. A flexible packet-switching or line-switching data transfer linked with dynamic costs between the junctions of a telecommunications network is enabled.

Abstract: In a process for the polymerization of isobutene or mixtures of isobutene with ethylenically unsaturated comonomers under the conditions of living cationic polymerization, the initiator system additionally comprises at least one nonpolymerizable, aprotic organosilicon compound having at least one Si—O bond.