Abstract: A method for executing a plurality of processing requests performed by a physical computing system that is programmed to execute the processing requests for clients includes, with the physical computing system, assigning an identification number to a new processing request; with the physical computing system, placing the new processing request into a process eligible group if the identification number of the new processing request meets a criterion; and with the physical computing system, placing the processing request into a queued group if the identification number of the processing request does not meet the criterion.

Abstract: A vehicle including a steering system for moving a pair of wheels supported by a wheel support structure relative to a vehicle structure to achieve steering of the vehicle whilst the vehicle is travelling. The system including a pressure source for providing a supply of pressurized fluid through first and second steering valves to fluid operated first and second actuators, each of which includes an actuating member. The steering valves are operator controlled to provide the pressurized fluid, at least when the steering system is in a first operating mode, from both the first steering valve to the first actuator and from the second steering valve to the second actuator to achieve steering. When the steering system is operating in a second operating mode, only one of the first and second steering valves provides pressurized fluid from the source to a respective one of the actuators to achieve steering.

Abstract: A gaming platform comprising a semi-circular table comprising a playing surface an arcuate first side, and an opposing arcuate second side, a plurality of player stations arranged along the arcuate first side, a first visual display device comprising a first display screen and disposed within the table such that the first display screen is flush with the playing surface and such that an image displayed on the first display screen can be seen from each of the plurality of player stations, and a second visual display device comprising a second display screen and disposed within the table such that the second display screen is flush with the playing surface and such that an image displayed on the first display screen can be seen from each of the plurality of player stations.

Abstract: A steering system for a vehicle comprising a steering control to effect mechanical steering of the vehicle, the steering control being mechanically connected via a mechanical steering train, to at least one steerable ground engaging wheel. A power assistor apparatus is present for power assisting the mechanical steering of the vehicle when the operator operates the steering control. The system includes a hydraulic steering actuator which is operable by an electronically controlled hydraulic steering control valve to effect hydraulic power steering of the vehicle independently of the operation of the steering control. The electronically controlled hydraulic steering control valve is operable in response to signals from an electronic controller, the hydraulic steering actuator being supplied with pressurised hydraulic fluid from a supply valve arrangement.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an AC/DC converter (1) of the type having an AC/DC conversion stage (2) and a DC/DC conversion stage (3), the AC/DC conversion stage (2) comprising an input filter stage (4), an input rectifier stage (5) and a tracking boost converter stage. The boost converter stage in turn comprises an input choke (10), a boost diode (16) and a bulk capacitor (17). The bulk capacitor (17) is arranged to store a range of voltages substantially proportional to the input voltage of the converter. The DC/DC stage (3) is arranged to receive the range of voltages from the bulk capacitor (17) and is controllable to provide a desired DC output regardless of the voltage received from the bulk capacitor (17). This is achieved through careful combination of components and use of output feedback control to control the voltage applied to an isolated transformer (41) in the DC/DC stage.

Abstract: A bacon-cooking apparatus comprising a first slanted cooking surface, a second slanted cooking surface in substantially parallel planar relation with said first slanted cooking surface, wherein said second slanted cooking surface is removably attached to said first slanted surface and when attached to said first slanted surface rests on said first slanted surface to that flat strips of food placed on the first slanted surface will be appressed by the weight of the second slanted cooking surface. A third slanted cooking surface rests on said second slanted cooking surface in a fashion similar to how said second slanted cooking surface rests on said first slanted cooking surface. All cooking surfaces are slanted to provide some grease runoff into a trough beneath the lower slanted side of all cooking surfaces. The trough and device contain substantially no sharp corners that are likely to trap grease during cleanup.

Abstract: A method of routing messages to multiple consumers comprises determining a probability function defining message classification probabilities for each of a plurality of consumer sets, receiving a plurality of messages, classifying each message, storing each message in a queue, receiving notification of a consumer available to process a message, ascertaining the consumer set to which the available consumer belongs, accessing the probabilities for the ascertained consumer set, selecting a message classification according to the accessed probabilities, and transmitting a message, of the selected classification, to the available consumer.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power converter (1) comprising a converter input (3), a converter output, a power factor pre-regulation stage (5), an isolation stage (7) and a control unit (9). The power factor pre-regulation stage (5) further comprises a buck power factor correction (PFC) circuit (15) and a bulk capacitor (25) fed by the buck PFC circuit. The amount of line current provided to the bulk capacitor (25) by the buck PFC circuit (15) may be adjusted according to the converter requirements in order to keep the voltage across the bulk capacitor (25) sufficient to ensure uniform operation of the power converter. Monitoring of the voltage across the bulk capacitor (25) and monitoring of the isolation stage (7) output current is provided to determine when additional current is to be applied to the bulk capacitor (25) and to ensure the power converter (1) operates within pre-defined parameters.

Abstract: This invention relates to a control circuit for a buck power factor correction (PFC) stage. Buck PFC stages are commonly used in low cost, high efficiency power converters. These buck PFC stages are typically controlled using a very slow control loop with a crossover frequency of the order of 10 to 20 Hz. However, such a slow response is unsuitable for applications requiring overvoltage protection. The present invention overcomes the problems with the known control circuits for buck PFC stages by implementing a two stage control circuit having a fast outer loop control circuit and a slow inner loop control circuit. The fast outer loop control circuit is in operation during low load conditions and the slow inner loop control circuit is only active under load.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power converter for use in ACDC power supplies and in particular to a power converter comprising a converter input, a converter output and an output synchronous rectification stage, the output synchronous rectification stage comprises a plurality of switching devices, an output inductor and an output capacitor. According to the invention the output inductor is provided by way of a tapped inductor and there is provided an output reverse recovery device, connected to the tapped inductor to provide an alternative path for the flow of current in the freewheeling period of the output synchronous rectification stage. In this way, the functionality of the power converter, particularly at higher frequencies is enhanced.

Abstract: A modified VOMAC mesh generation method for image data sampled from an actual object in which mesh resolution can vary locally within the mesh whilst permitting control of the distortion of cells in the mesh to maintain suitability for performing finite element (or finite volume) analysis on a representation of the object. The method includes computer-implemented instructions that calculate a variable sampling point distribution (SPD) in image data space, the variable SPD having localized variations in SPD within the image data space, and the distribution of sampling points having the same topology as a uniform SPD suitable for obtaining a regular structured is mesh. The method includes generating an indication of the magnitude of cell distortion between the generated mesh and the regular structured mesh Varying the mesh resolution may enable smaller elements to be located in regions of particular interest or activity when subsequently performing analysis using the mesh model.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ACDC converter (1) comprising a converter input (3) and a converter output (5), a pre-regulation stage (7) and a DC transformer stage (9) comprising a transformer input stage (11) and a transformer output stage (13). The transformer input stage comprises a double ended converter and there is further provided a controller (17) for providing a control signal to the double ended converter. The controller (17) operates the ACDC converter using burst mode control and by sending control signals comprising pulse sets that are designed to provide substantially zero net magnetising current in the double ended converter. The pre-regulation stage preferably comprises a buck converter which in turn also provides power factor correction to the input of the ACDC converter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a transformer (1) for multi-output power supplies such as those commonly found in electronic equipment. The transformer comprises a magnetic core (3) and a plurality of windings (5, 7, 9) at least some of which are fractional windings, arranged about the magnetic core. The transformer comprises a dual transformer structure with a pair of transformers, a main transformer (11) and an auxiliary transformer (13). In a preferred embodiment, the main transformer and the auxiliary transformer are connected together. In this way, readily available magnetic components may be used in the construction of the transformer and the simple construction allows for a large cross-sectional area of transformer to be deployed so that reduced turn counts of windings may be used.

Abstract: This invention relates to a power converter (1) comprising a converter input (3), a converter output (5), a power factor correction (PFC) stage (7) and an isolation stage (9). The PFC stage (7) is implemented by way of a buck PFC with low side drive and low side current sensing, There is provided a third stage, an intermediate buck pre-regulation stage (11), intermediate the buck PFC stage (7) and the isolation stage (9), Control of the power converter output voltage is achieved by varying the duty cycle of the intermediate buck pre-regulation stage (11) and therefore the isolation stage (9) may be an unregulated stage operated as a fixed DCDC voltage converter. The isolation stage (9) is operated as a 50%-50% duly cycle double ended stage. The configuration of power converter allows for a relatively inexpensive, highly efficient converter with 90%+ efficiency and simplified control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a communications manager, method and computer program for receiving publications and forwarding these on to parties who have subscribed to receive such publications. A subscription request of a first type is received and includes a filter expression having at least one attribute. It is possible to map at least part of such an attribute(s) to a generic format (generic format filter attribute(s)). It is also possible to receive a publication message of a second type and to compare the publication received with the subscription request to determine whether the publication is appropriate for forwarding onto the subscriber originating the request. To enable such a comparison, a generic format filter attribute(s) is identified and is mapped to a format corresponding to the second message type. Once a match is found, the publication can then be transmitted to the originating subscriber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power converter (1) comprising a magnetic core (3) and a plurality of sub-converters each having a primary winding (17, 19) and a secondary winding. The magnetic core (3) comprises an inner leg (7) and a plurality of outer legs (5, 9), each of the outer legs (5, 9) having a gap (11, 13) formed therein. The primary winding (17) of one sub-converter is wound around an outer leg and the primary winding (19) of another sub-converter is wound around another outer leg. The primary windings (17, 19) are formed from a unitary winding (21) which is wound around the legs (5, 7, 9) in a continuous fashion. The primary windings (17, 19) are mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) (15) and interconnects between turns of the primary windings are achieved using vias (27, 29) at the ends (23, 25) of the unitary winding. The vias may be conveniently placed in the corner sections or the PCB (15).

Abstract: An entertainment apparatus comprising an arcade game in combination with an electronic game of chance.

Abstract: A vehicle including a steering system for moving a pair of wheels supported by a wheel support structure relative to a vehicle structure to achieve steering of the vehicle whilst the vehicle is travelling. The system including a pressure source for providing a supply of pressurized fluid through first and second steering valves to fluid operated first and second actuators, each of which includes an actuating member. The steering valves are operator controlled to provide the pressurized fluid, at least when the steering system is in a first operating mode, from both the first steering valve to the first actuator and from the second steering valve to the second actuator to achieve steering. When the steering system is operating in a second operating mode, only one of the first and second steering valves provides pressurized fluid from the source to a respective one of the actuators to achieve steering.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a game of chance at a point of sale, comprising a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, microcode encoded in the memory, wherein the processor utilizes the microcode to operate the apparatus, instructions written to the memory, wherein the instructions encode a game of chance, a visual display device in communication with the processor, wherein the processor can utilize the instructions to display results of the game of chance on the visual display device. A method to promote the sale of a product using the apparatus.

Abstract: There is illustrated the assembly of a dual inductor (1) on to a printed circuit board (2). A printed circuit board (2) has a through hole (3). Then the first winding (5), formed from a stamping, is mounted across the hole (3). Then, the first winding (5) is connected to the first face (7) of the PCB (2). Then, a core assembly (10) is inserted into the hole (3) from the direction of a second face (8) of the PCB (2). Then, at some stage, for example as shown, the second winding (6) is inserted into the core assembly (10) and affixed to the bottom face (8) of the PCB (2).