Abstract: A light reactive medium comprises an imaging layer reactive to radiation of a first frequency to exhibit a visible change, and a further layer above the imaging layer, the further layer being changeable from being substantially transparent to said first frequency to being substantially opaque to said first frequency, in response to electromagnetic radiation of a second frequency substantially different from the first frequency, the at least one other layer being at least partially transparent to visible light reflected from the imaging layer while being opaque to said first frequency. Also disclosed is a lenticular imaging method in which a lenticular layer is provided over the imaging layer, and images to be viewed from different directions are written using light incident at different directions. Also disclosed is a phosphorescent display that may be used to display lenticular images.

Abstract: A copy-protected compact disc includes, within a single session, a table of contents (TOC) and a Video CD index (VI). Each track (T) is prefaced by unrecoverable data (UD) at a track start position (ATOC) indicated by the table of contents (TOC). However, the Video CD index (VI) indicates the actual position (AP) of the tracks. DVD players use the Video CD index (VI) to locate the tracks, while the CD-ROM drives use the table of contents (TOC) and read the unrecoverable data (UD), which prevents them from reading the subsequent track (T). The unrecoverable data (UD) may be prefaced by data pointers (DP) which cause the CD-ROM drive to load a player program in response to the error condition. The player program can be used to play the tracks (T), but restricts copying. Subchannel data (P; DX) causes audio CD players to ignore the Video CD index (VI) and the unrecoverable data (UD), and to play the tracks (T) at their actual start positions (AP).

Abstract: A copy-protected compact disc includes, within a single session, a table of contents (TOC) and a Video CD index (VI). Each track (T) is prefaced by unrecoverable data (UD) at a track start position (ATOC) indicated by the table of contents (TOC). However, the Video CD index (VI) indicates the actual position (AP) of the tracks. DVD players use the Video CD index (VI) to locate the tracks, while CD-ROM drives use the table of contents (TOC) and read the unrecoverable data (UD), which prevents them from reading the subsequent track (T). The unrecoverable data (UD) may be prefaced by data pointers (DP) which cause the CD-ROM drive to load a player program in response to the error condition. The player program can be used to play the tracks (T), but restricts copying. Subchannel data (P; DX) causes audio CD players to ignore the Video CD index (VI) and the unrecoverable data (UD), and to play the tracks (T) at their actual start positions (AP).

Abstract: An optical disc has a recording format including a first index indicating the positions of each of a plurality of program blocks within a program area, the program blocks comprising one or more content blocks containing readable data, and one or more unrecoverable blocks containing unrecoverable data, the recording format including a second index indicating the positions of the content blocks without indicating the positions of the unrecoverable blocks. Preferably, the second index indicates preferred start points for playing content on the optical disc.

Abstract: An optical disk label writing method for writing a label on an optical disc uses a similar writing operation to that used to write data to the disc. The disc has a label side including a laser reactive material for forming the label image, and a tracking format that can be tracked by a writing laser in a similar way to a writing operation. A computer program is provided for converting a label image to a disk image file for writing to the label side.

Abstract: A data payload PD is recorded on a compact disc in a format including a lead-in indicating a track start address ATOC and a subchannel P which changes state at a payload start address AP, subsequent to the track start address ATOC. Data ED recorded at the track start address ATOC includes unrecoverable data. Where the data payload PD is an audio track, an audio-only player begins to search sequentially from the track start address ATOC until the subchannel changes state, and reproduces the audio track from that point. A data player, on the other hand, begins to reproduce data from the track start address ATOC. When the unrecoverable data is read, the read operation is aborted, as it appears that the data has been corrupted. This operation cannot be easily circumvented, because it is not normally acceptable to ignore corrupt CD-ROM data.

Abstract: This invention relates to reducing the complexity and cost of antenna arrays and is more specifically concerned with reducing the complexity of an antenna apparatus (10). It provides an antenna array (62) made up of a vertical stack of horizontal linear structures (74) each having several groups of neighboring array antenna elements (78), the groups (74) having variable numbers of the antenna elements (78) each connected to a transmit/receive module (66). The advantage of this configuration is that less communication modules (66), such as transmit/receive modules, are required to operate the antenna array (62), reducing the weight, power consumption and cost of an antenna apparatus (10) incorporating such an antenna array (62) without significantly limiting the capability and/or performance of a system compared to a conventional solution.

Abstract: Media content is recorded in a format that includes embedded control information for controlling reproduction of the media content.

Abstract: A traffic announcement system for a motor vehicle utilizes a vehicular navigation system covering a geographical area, a receiver that receives traffic announcement signals, an in-vehicle audio system for presenting to a driver of the vehicle the received traffic announcements, and a controller linked to the navigation system and to the receiver. Via the controller the driver of the vehicle can selectively suppress the presentation of at least some traffic announcements. The controller includes a user input by which the driver identifies particular routes or localities within the geographical area covered by the navigation system for which traffic announcements are to be selectively suppressed. The controller then automatically suppresses the traffic announcements when the vehicle is on the identified routes or within the identified localities. The driver can also input selected time ranges when traffic announcements are to be suppressed.

Abstract: A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag comprises an array of antennas resonant at discrete frequencies. Each antenna can be modified by application of a high power RF signal so as to reduce its resonance or change its resonant frequency, thereby writing information to the array of antennas.

Abstract: A fun physical therapeutic toy with a belt clip on mechanism, swivel clip mechanism, springy type of retracting coil cord, connected to a spherical ball. The said physical therapy toy has a clip on belt clip, swivel clip device, coil cord and spherical ball construction. The belt clip, and clip on swivel device provides a way to minimize tangling, twisting, and knotting of the retractable coil cord located between the clip on swivel device and the spherical ball.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bone substitute material comprises the steps of providing a foam material (3) having an open cell structure, distorting the shape of the foam material (3) and holding the material in a distorted shape, coating the walls of the cells of the foam material with a ceramic slip (5), removing the foam material, and sintering the ceramic slip to form a bone substitute material that is approximately a positive image of the distorted foam material (3). In another method, a granular bone material is formed from a multiplicity of pieces of foam that are not distorted.

Abstract: A copy-protected compact disc includes, within a single session, a table of contents (TOC) and a Video CD index (VI). Each track (T) is prefaced by unrecoverable data (UD) at a track start position (ATOC) indicated by the table of contents (TOC). However, the Video CD index (VI) indicates the actual position (AP) of the tracks. DVD players use the Video CD index (VI) to locate the tracks, while CD-ROM drives use the table of contents (TOC) and read the unrecoverable data (UD), which prevents them from reading the subsequent track (T). The unrecoverable data (UD) may be prefaced by data pointers (DP) which cause the CD-ROM drive to load a player program in response to the error condition. The player program can be used to play the tracks (T), but restricts copying. Subchannel data (P; DX) causes audio CD players to ignore the Video CD index (VI) and the unrecoverable data (UD), and to play the tracks (T) at their actual start positions (AP).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a bone substitute material, the method comprises the steps of: providing a foam material (4) having an open cell structure, substantially filling the cells of the foam material with a ceramic slip, removing the foam material, and sintering the ceramic slip to form a bone substitute material that is substantially a negative image of the foam material. The step of substantially filling the cells of the foam material with a ceramic slip includes the steps of immersing the foam material in the ceramic slip, drying the ceramic slip and again immersing the foam material in the ceramic slip. The bone substitute material produced has pores in the material corresponding to walls of the foam cells.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and apparatus for improving high range resolution of a radar system. The method comprises phase shifting a radar pulse to be transmitted at substantially the radar transmission frequency and phase shifting the received radar pulse at substantially the radar transmission frequency. The phase shifting is implemented using a monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) (42) driven by a digital circuit (44) to provide a phase profile which is applied to radar pulse (52) produced by a radar pulse generator (54) and which is also applied to a received radar pulse (60). A master clock and synchronizer (72) provides clock signals for an analogue to digital converter (ADC) (68), the generator (54) and the digital circuit (44) so that the MMIC (42) is clocked at a frequency which is directly harmonically related to the ADC (68). This avoids spurious beat frequencies which could interfere with a wanted radar signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical media system (40) for suppressing externally induced rattle of an optical media pickup. The system (40) comprises: an optical pickup (41) for reading from and/or writing to an optical storage medium (43), the optical pickup (41) having one or more sources of light (61), an objective lens (2), a focus and/or tracking actuator (1) for moving the lens (2) to focus and/or track the light on the optical medium (43) and mechanical limits to limit the focus and/or tracking movement of the lens (2); and an actuator controller (58) for controlling the actuator (1) and hence the focus and/or tracking position of the lens (2), characterised in that the actuator controller (58) actively controls the lens position when the optical pickup (41) is not being used with the optical medium (43).

Abstract: A data payload PD is recorded on a compact disc in a format including a lead-in indicating a track start address ATOC and a subchannel P which changes state at a payload start address AP, subsequent to the track start address ATOC. Data ED recorded at the track start address ATOC includes unrecoverable data. Where the data payload PD is an audio track, an audio-only player begins to search sequentially from the track start address ATOC until the subchannel changes state, and reproduces the audio track from that point. A data player, on the other hand, begins to reproduce data from the track start address ATOC. When the unrecoverable data is read, the read operation is aborted, as it appears that the data has been corrupted. This operation cannot be easily circumvented, because it is not normally acceptable to ignore corrupt CD-ROM data.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modular communication system to be installed in a motor vehicle. The communication system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a base unit and a removable unit. The base unit is provided with a cavity to insert the removable unit. The communication system is rendered inoperable when the removable unit is removed from the base unit. The removable unit is provided with two surfaces that perform different function. In particular when the removable unit is inserted into the base unit and the first surface is exposed then the communication system operates as a radio player. The removable unit is capable of being reversed such that second surface is exposed, then the communication system operates as a telephone unit.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing digital data storage medium comprising the steps of: segmenting copyright material in digital form into consecutive segments, allocating each segment to a sector of the storage medium, pre-determining the position of each sector on the storage medium and using an algorithm to derive a unique encryption key for each sector according to the logical block address corresponding to the start of each sector, encrypting each sector using its unique key, and writing the encrypted data sectors to the said storage medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a modular communication system to be installed in a motor vehicle. The communication system in accordance with the teachings of the present invention includes a base unit and a removable unit. The base unit is provided with a cavity to insert the removable unit. The communication system is rendered inoperable when the removable unit is removed from the base unit. The removable unit is provided with two surfaces that perform different function. In particular when the removable unit is inserted into the base unit and the first surface is exposed then the communication system operates as a radio player. The removable unit is capable of being reversed such that second surface is exposed, then the communication system operates as a telephone unit.