Abstract: A method for forming a joint between a fibre reinforced composite component and a metallic component and a joint are provided. The metallic component and the composite component each define a joint surface for mating with the joint surface of the other to join the two components together and the composite component defines a free surface opposed to the joint surface thereof. The joint surface of the metallic component defines an array of pins extending therefrom with each pin defining a pin head at an end distal from the joint surface. The method includes the steps of pressing together the joint surfaces of the two components whereby to cause the array of pins to penetrate through the fibre reinforcing material, and modifying the effective cross sectional shape of the pin heads whereby to increase the constraint applied to the composite component against peeling of the composite component from the joint surface of the metallic component.

Abstract: An oil-in-water emulsion cosmetic composition comprising solid particulates of 2-hydroxystearic acid having a particle size distribution such that 99% or more by weight have a particle size of less than 125 microns and a method of manufacture of such a composition.

Abstract: In lossy data compression of a signal using ADPCM, an adaptive decorrelation or “prediction” filter is used to reduce the amplitude of the signal, the spectral dynamic range of the signal also being reduced. This latter reduction is effected in a nonuniform manner, if known techniques are used, with regions of high spectral density being compressed more than regions of low spectral density. The present invention recognises that using a uniform compression ratio results in a better tradeoff between compression and robustness to transmission channel errors. A method is described for obtaining a uniform compression ratio by adjusting coefficients of the decorrelation filter in dependence on coefficients of an adaptive training filter that is fed from the output of the decorrelation filter. A reverse method is also provided along with encoder, decoder and codec implementing the techniques.

Abstract: An encoder for digital audio signals at a higher sample rate creates a stream for consumer distribution at a lower sampling rate, with compatibility for standard PCM players without a decoder. In conjunction with a suitable decoder, two enhanced playback options are supported, the first option allowing full lossless reconstruction of a noise-shaped higher sampling rate signal, the second option allowing lossy bandwidth extension even if an intervening transmission chain has truncated the least-significant-bits of the encoder's output signal.

Abstract: A method of determining a propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller to an attached USB device is presented. In an embodiment, the method insludes: the USB device sending a message or data packet to the USB Host Controller; the USB device starting a local timer upon transmission of the message or data packet; the USB Host Controller responding to the message or data packet by issuing a handshake token; and the USB device stopping the local timer on receipt of the handshake token; wherein the local timer value represents twice the propagation time of signals from the USB Host Controller to the USB device.

Abstract: A method of synchronising the operation of a plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices and a plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices is provided. The method includes establishing a SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel for each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of SuperSpeed USB devices; synchronising a respective local clock of each of the plurality of non-SuperSpeed USB devices; and synchronising the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channels so that the SuperSpeed and non-SuperSpeed devices can operate in synchrony.

Abstract: A method of reducing jitter in a local clock of a synchronised USB device attached to a USB Hub, the USB Hub having a local clock and repeater circuitry, comprising: observing a USB data stream with the USB Hub, the data stream having a data stream bit rate; the USB Hub decoding a periodic signal structure in the USB data stream; the USB Hub generating an event signal in response to decoding of the periodic signal structure; and the USB Hub locking a frequency of the local clock of the USB Hub to the periodic event signal. The local clock of the USB Hub is adapted to be a clocking source for the repeater circuitry of the USB Hub at substantially an integer multiple of a frequency of the data stream bit rate.

Abstract: Integrated photo detector receptor with Memristor Memory cell to perform simultaneous image capture and image matching as part of meta-security camera.

Abstract: A system for synchronising the operation of a measurement instrument having a microcontroller, a local oscillator and function circuitry to an external timebase is provided. The system includes a USB Host Controller; an interrupt generator adapted to respond to ITPs by generating respective interrupts and passing the interrupts to the microcontroller; and a timer for measuring an interval between receptions of the ITPs in a time domain of the local oscillator.

Abstract: A synchronization apparatus, comprising: a USB device having a USB microcontroller, circuitry for observing USB traffic, and circuitry for decoding from a USB data stream a periodic data structure (such as a clock carrier signal) containing information about a distributed clock frequency and phase and outputting a decoded carrier signal; and circuitry for receiving the decoded carrier signal, for generating a software interrupt upon receipt of a predefined data packet (such as a SOF packet) and for passing the software interrupt to the USB microcontroller; wherein the USB microcontroller is configured to respond to the software interrupt (such as with an interrupt service routine provided therein) by generating an output signal adapted to be used as a synchronization reference signal.

Abstract: A method of determining the downstream propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller across one or more USB cables and one or more USB Hubs to a SuperSpeed USB device, including locking a clock of the SuperSpeed USB device to information that includes a first timestamp, transmitting a plurality of signals to the USB Host Controller, each of the signals containing a second timestamp indicative of a local time of the SuperSpeed USB device when the respective signal was generated by the SuperSpeed device; the USB Host Controller creating a third timestamp indicative of a time of reception from the SuperSpeed USB device; determining a time period from one or more respective time differences between corresponding second and third timestamps, the time period being indicative of a sum of a downstream propagation time and an upstream propagation time; and determining the downstream propagation time from the time period.

Abstract: A method of synchronising a compound SuperSpeed USB device, comprising: providing data communication between a host computing device and the compound SuperSpeed USB device across the SuperSpeed USB communication channel; establishing a SuperSpeed USB communication channel to a SuperSpeed USB function of the compound USB device; establishing a non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel to a non-SuperSpeed USB function of the compound USB device; and synchronising a local clock of the compound USB device to a periodic data structure within a data stream in the non-SuperSpeed synchronisation channel so that the local clock can enable synchronous operation of the compound USB device with one or more comparable USB devices.

Abstract: A method of determining the downstream propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller across one or more USB cables and one or more USB Hubs to a SuperSpeed USB device, including locking a clock of the SuperSpeed USB device to information that includes a first timestamp, transmitting a plurality of signals to the USB Host Controller, each of the signals containing a second timestamp indicative of a local time of the SuperSpeed USB device when the respective signal was generated by the SuperSpeed device; the USB Host Controller creating a third timestamp indicative of a time of reception from the SuperSpeed USB device; determining a time period from one or more respective time differences between corresponding second and third timestamps, the time period being indicative of a sum of a downstream propagation time and an upstream propagation time; and determining the downstream propagation time from the time period.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase and frequency of the local clock of a USB device, the apparatus comprising circuitry for observing USB traffic and decoding from the USB traffic a periodic data structure containing information about the frequency and phase of a distributed clock frequency, and phase and circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating from at least the periodic data structure a local clock signal locked in both frequency and phase to the periodic data structure. The circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating the local clock signal can generate the local clock signal with a frequency that is a non-integral multiple of a frequency of the periodic data structure.

Abstract: A method of operating a diesel engine 10 having LNT 11 and SCR 13 aftertreatment devices arranged in series to receive exhaust gas from the engine is disclosed in which the engine is operated in a rich early injection mode to generate ammonia in the LNT for storage in the SCR located downstream from the LNT. This reduces the amount of soot produced permitting longer operation of the engine in rich early injection mode and further may reduce the use of PGM material in the LNT and increase the amount of ammonia for use in the SCR.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a compound Super Speed USB device, comprising: providing data communication between a host computing device and the compound Super Speed USB device across the Super Speed USB communication channel; establishing a Super Speed USB communication channel to a Super Speed USB function of the compound USB device; establishing a non-Super Speed synchronization channel to a non-Super Speed USB function of the compound USB device; and synchronizing a local clock of the compound USB device to a periodic data structure within a data stream in the non-Super Speed synchronization channel so that the local clock can enable synchronous operation of the compound USB device with one or more comparable USB devices.

Abstract: A method of providing a synchronization channel to a SuperSpeed USB device is provided. The method including a SuperSpeed communication channel connection to the SuperSpeed USB device with a USB cable that has USB 2.0 D+ and D? data signalling lines disabled or disconnected at an upstream connection point; multiplexing synchronization information onto the D+/D? data signalling lines at the upstream connection point; and demultiplexing the synchronization information from the D+/D? signalling lines at a downstream connection point of the cable; whereby the synchronization channel is maintained across the D+/D? data signalling lines.