Abstract: Magnetic signature assessment apparatus for a vehicle comprising sensors for incorporation in the vehicle to measure the magnetic field normal to a closed surface at least approximately bounding the vessel and processing means for calculating from the normal field measurements a scalar magnetic potential outside the surface. Apparatus may be provided on the vehicle to generate a magnetic field to suppress the magnetic signature corresponding to the scalar potential. The invention also extends to corresponding methods and to programs for implementing those methods.

Abstract: An aircraft wing coupling arrangement couples services to and/or from a wing component which is translationally extendible from the wing of an aircraft. A housing is provided for mounting on the wing and includes a first coupling member. A hollow telescopic assembly extends from the housing for connection at a distal end to the wing component and has a second coupling member at the distal end. The telescopic assembly is extendible between a retracted and an extended position. A service carrying conduit arrangement carries the services to and/or from the wing component and extends through the hollow telescopic assembly from the second coupling member to the first coupling member. The service carrying conduit arrangement is flexible to locate excess thereof in the housing when the hollow telescopic assembly is in the retracted position.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for vibration isolation. The invention may be conceptualized as a vibration isolation mount. The vibration isolation mount mounts a first member to a second member for reducing the transmission of vibrations from the first member to the second member. The vibration isolation mount comprises a first mounting means for mounting to the first member, and a second mounting means for mounting to the second member. A spring means is arranged between the first and second mounting means, wherein said spring means is coupled to the first mounting means and provides a spring force between said first and second mounting means. The invention may also be conceptualized as a vibration isolation method. The method controls vibrations transmitted from a first member to a second member when the second member is mounted on the first member using a spring arrangement. The spring arrangement provides a delay in transmission of an impulse between the first and second members.

Abstract: An aircraft system for control of the application of power to a plurality of devices in the aircraft comprises a plurality of local control modules. Each local control module controls the application of the power to the group of at least one device. A central control system communicates with and controls the local control modules.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating an output dependent upon the impedance or at least one component of the impedance of a device includes a load component having a known impedance or component thereof for connection in series with the device; a measurement channel for measuring voltages; a switch arrangement connected to the measurement channel for switching the measurement channel to sequentially measure a first voltage on a first side of the load component and a second voltage on a second side of the load component or a voltage difference across the load component; a processing arrangement connected to the measurement channel for processing the sequentially measured voltages to generate an output dependent upon the impedance or at least one component of the impedance of the device; and a signal generating arrangement for generating an electrical signal for application to the series connected load component and device.

Abstract: A buoy is provided with first and second fixed hydrodynamic surfaces (15,16). When the buoy is towed through water by a tether (17), the first hydrodynamic surface (15) generates a downward force that reduces with increased speed through the water. The second hydrodynamic surface (16) generates an upward force that increases with increased speed through the water so that the buoy dives up to an upper critical speed through the water speed and rises beyond said upper critical speed through the water. The downward force of the first hydrodynamic surface (15) overcomes the buoyancy of the buoy at a lower critical speed through the water above, which the buoy dives. The hydrodynamic surface (15) comprises first fins (15) mounted on an outer casing (1) of the buoy and are spaced angularity and extend parallel to the centre axis of the buoy which is substantially aligned with the direction of towing.

Abstract: A method of providing an indication of the direction of a target such as a sniper. A rifle mounted sensor array detects an acoustic pulse originating from the target. The signal is processed to estimate the direction of the target, and an indication is provided when the weapon is aligned with the estimated direction. The direction of arrival of an acoustic pulse is estimated by spectrally decomposing each signal from the sensor so as to generate one or more spectral components for each signal, and processing the spectral components to estimate the direction of arrival.

Abstract: An active vibration absorber is provided for absorbing vibrations in a member. An inertial mass is mounted on the member with a stiffness between the member and the mass. A force actuator arrangement applies a force between the inertial mass and the member. A damping arrangement provides for damping of a resonance of the active vibration absorber. A first sensor arrangement provides at least one first signal indicative of at least one movement and/or stress related parameter for the member and a second sensor arrangement provides for at least one second signal indicative of a reaction of the inertial mass. A control arrangement is provided for controlling the force actuator arrangement using the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal.

Abstract: There is provided apparatus for dispensing a card or other substantially planar substrate therefrom, the apparatus comprising a base (2) in engagement with a cover (3), the cover being arranged to house a plurality of cards (6) therein, the cover and base being arranged to be movable with respect to one another such that on relative motion of the base and cover one of the plurality of cards is removable from the apparatus, wherein the cover includes an outwardly protruding ledge (19) such that, when the apparatus is in a configuration allowing removal of a card, the ledge is configured and/or dimensioned to prohibit the grasping of the top surface of the card by a user.

Abstract: A printer (2) for printing security cards (14) in which two pairs of pinch rollers (22, 24) convey a substrate (14) past a print head (20). A cam follower (42) is driven by a cam (40) and is mounted on shafts of lower rollers (22a, 24a) of the pinch rollers and a shaft of a platen roller (32). The cam follower can be moved to act against upper rollers (22b, 24b) of the pinch rollers and the print head, in order to bring the pinch rollers or the print head in and out of engagement with the substrate. The printer may also include a return device (70) to urge the substrate back towards a pair of pinch rollers. The rollers can then be reversed, enabling multiple passes of the substrate past the print head or a magnetic strip encoder (36). The substrate can also be inserted and removed via a single slot (12) in the housing of the printer.

Abstract: A security card is provided in which an ink region 6 bearing image or textural data is printed onto a substrate 4. A reflective portion 8 is also provided on the substrate 4. A plastics protective layer 7 is deposited over the ink 6 and reflective element 8. Portions 10 of the protective layer 7 are overworked in order to change their appearance. Those portions overlying the reflective element 8 exhibit enhanced visibility.

Abstract: A security card is provided in which an ink region 6 bearing image or textural data is printed onto a substrate 4. A reflective portion 8 is also provided on the substrate 4. A plastic protective layer 7 deposited over the ink 6 and reflective element 8. Portions 10 of the layer 7 are overworked in order to change their appearance.

Abstract: A rotary apparatus in which at least one electrically controlled device is attached to a rotor. The rotor carries coils such that rotation of the rotor generates power for the device. A switch is provided for controlling the supply of power to the device and receives control signals via a contactless communication link.

Abstract: A method of forming an image comprises depositing pixels or dots of a plastic material of different thickness or texture on a surface so as to form a relief or textured image in the surface. The plastic material can be transferred to the surface by thermal transfer from a carrier film.

Abstract: A locking coupling comprises a body (1) adapted for connection to a separate body, a coupling collar (2) rotatably mounted on said body (1) and adapted to cooperate with said separate body to hold it in axial connection with said body (1), a locking collar (4) mounted on said body (1) and longitudinally movable thereon between locking and unlocking position, bias means (8) that urges the locking collar (4) towards the locking position, and locking formations (11, 10) on the locking collar (4) and coupling collar (2) that interengage axially when the locking collar (4) is moved to the locking position so as to restrain the coupling collar (2) against rotation on said body (1). The locking collar (4) can be retained in the unlocking position by retention formations (5, 9) on the locking collar (4) and body (1) that interengage longitudinally. The locking collar (4) is held captive longitudinally on the body by The coupling collar, and the latter is held captive on the body by an internal circlip (3).

Abstract: A direction finding and ranging (DIFAR) sensor is provided in which a relatively light sensing element (30) that undergoes motion in response to an acoustic wave is disclosed. The motion of the sensing element relative to an inertial mass (2, 4) is measured along two mutually perpendicular directions to determine the direction of propagation of the acoustic wave. The construction of the DIFAR sensor enables the contact between the sensing element (30) and internally disposed relative motion transducers to be adjusted after assembly of the DIFAR sensor.

Abstract: A controller is provided for controlling the operation of a Joule-Thomson cooler. When the cooler has cooled down to its operating temperature, the rate of gas flow to the cooler is controlled as a function of the ambient temperature in order to maintain the gas flow at a minimum level.

Abstract: An electrical generator (1) comprising first and second relatively rotatable winding assemblies (5,8), the first winding assembly (5) having a first electrical output for connection to a first electrical load (4) and the second winding assembly (8) having a second electrical output for connection to a second electrical load (6 or 19), and a permanent magnet assembly (12) freely rotatably mounted between the winding assemblies (5,8) such that, in use, rotation of the winding assemblies (5,8) relative to the permanent magnet (12) assembly induces a current in both winding assemblies. A third winding assembly (19) may rotate with the second winding assembly (8) relative to a fourth winding assembly (20) that rotates into the first winding assembly (5). The third winding assembly 19, may comprise said second electrical load, and the fourth winding assembly (20) may be connected to a fourth electrical load (22,23). The first and fourth electrical loads (4,22,23) may be de-icing elements on a propeller.