Abstract: A vehicle driving arrangement is provided which has at least two driven wheels, the driving torques of which can be individually regulated by a control device, the control device being connected to a sensor arrangement comprising at least one sensor. Using such a driving arrangement, wheel slip is to be prevented. For that purpose, using a signal of the sensor arrangement, the control device continuously ascertains a maximum torque for each wheel, continuously ascertains the driving torque of each wheel and reduces the driving torque by the appropriate amount when the driving torque ascertained no longer complies with a predetermined limit of difference from the maximum torque.

Abstract: A method of tagging individual wavelength division multiplexed channels within a plurality of said channels. The method comprises the step of creating a tagging tone in the form of an analogue spectral line tone, by providing a series of regularly spaced time slots substantially throughout each of said tagged channels for receipt of binary tagging pulses. The binary tagging pulses in each tagged channel are arranged in a different manner to provide a characteristic tag for each tagged channel.

Abstract: In optical communication switching equipment there is a need to set up optical paths through the switch before there is an optical signal present. The present invention provides an optical switching apparatus comprising: an optical switch having a number of optical paths for switching optical channels; a demultiplexer coupled to said switch; a broadband light source coupled to said demultiplexer which distributes said light in said channels to enable correct alignment of said optical paths.

Abstract: In a sewing installation comprising a work piece holder of an outer contour that corresponds to the geometry of the work piece to be fixed thereon, the work piece holder being displaceable relative to a sewing needle via a control unit by the aid of x-y-drive motors, it is provided that a storage medium (chip 28) is disposed on the work piece holder (5, 6, 7), comprising any information necessary for the control of the sewing installation so that the course of the seam is computed and sewn corresponding to the contour of the work piece holder (5, 6, 7), the sewing installation comprising a sensor unit (read head 29) designed for the information to be read out of the storage medium (chip 28) and to be fed to an input of the control unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for maintaining established local calls at an access module in case of change of the call control for a distributed PBX over a communications network, e.g. WAN or LAN, especially an IP network. In accordance with a first main embodiment, the system is composed of one Call Server controlling the call processing of other PBX access modules in a normal situation. These access modules have the ability to operate in Stand Alone or Survival mode if the link to the Call Server is down for any reason. In a second main embodiment, two call servers may be used, an active call server and a hot-standby server. The active call server controls the call processing of the access modules. In case the link between one access module and the active call server fails, the hot-standby Call Server can take over the control of the access module.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a redundant process control system including at least one control unit (PLC1) which produces an output signal (S1) resulting from a control function being applied to a set of input signals (E1). In addition, the system includes at least one test member (TES1) that is different from said control unit, which test member produces a test signal resulting from said control function being applied to said set of input signals (E1) and generates an alarm (AL1) whenever there is a difference between said test signal and the corresponding output signal (S1).

Abstract: An optical waveguide phase adjuster with enhanced sensitivity for instance for use in a Mach Zehnder has a monolithic integrated optics waveguide across which one or more thin, e.g. 10 &mgr;m, slots are made. The slots are filled with material whose refractive index varies strongly with temperature or applied field. The insertion loss of such a slot is small for thicknesses of less than about 25 &mgr;m, but begins to rise ever more rapidly thereafter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to communication systems and in particular relates to the time alignment of uplink CDMA signals. A simple approach for improving the performance of received CDMA signals is discussed. This consists of aligning the timings of users' signals such that the maximum output power from a single rake finger for each user occurs simultaneously. This allows the timing to be adjusted for each user's signal independently of the others and has the effect of minimizing any interference between users. The invention provides a time alignment mechanism which employs a minimum of signalling.

Abstract: A method of preparing filled, modified and fiber reinforced thermoplastics is distinguished by the fact that polymer as matrix material together with blend polymer is fed to a twin screw extruder in a single manufacturing process, filler being supplied through a feeder device after the melting. Then fiber rovings are fed in and cut into long fiber sections in a fiber incorporation zone.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a pump to a fluid cylinder comprising a tie rod threaded at one end and providing a second end drivingly engageable with a sleeve-like threaded connection for clamping attachment directly into the cylinder block by the direct thread engagement of the connector internally of the cylinder block. The invention eliminates the requirement of machining a fluid cylinder block to provide engageable flanges and form nut pockets, thereby minimizing fabrication time and costs, while increasing strength, stability and alignment accuracy between pump pony rods and plunger assemblies of fluid cylinders generally of the type used for high pressure industrial applications.

Abstract: A retractable hose reel assembly comprises a reel (2) rotatably mounted in a casing (1) and a torsion spring (8) for rotating the reel in a direction corresponding to winding of the hose on the reel (2). A ratchet (14) and pawl (18) prevent or limit rotational movement of the reel (2) in the winding direction. A lever (20) is manually movable to a locking position in which unwinding movement of the reel (2) is prevented, for example to prevent vandalism or to prevent a child pulling the hose from the reel and suffering discomfort or injury as a result of retraction of the hose by the spring (8).

Abstract: Supplementary jaw means is described for fitting to a clamping workbench transversely to the main jaws thereof at a position spaced from stop means at the other end of the main jaws, whereby operation of the drive means which moves the main jaws towards or away from each other will increase the distance between the supplementary jaw means and the stop means when operated in one sense, and will decrease the distance therebetween when operated in the other sense. A clamping workbench may be fitted with one supplementary clamping jaw means and a fixed stop for clamping a workpiece therebetween above the main clamping jaws.

Abstract: The present invention to provides a projection system for three-dimensional movement of projected modulated beam. It comprises a stationary light source, a projection lens, an optical path from the light source to the projection lens and a light beam modulating element in the optical path. The light modulating element moves with the projection lens. The image is generated at a location whereafter the modulated beam is not deflected anymore before arriving at the projection lens. Therefore there is no rotation of the modulated light beam around its own optical axis, independent of the direction of projection.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying conveyable material. The apparatus includes a plurality of cars joined together by a plurality of spacers. The spacers couple the cars a fixed distance apart to form a shuttle. The shuttle is guided along a track between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the shuttle is aligned with a first group of supports. The shuttle in the first position receives conveyable material from the supports. The shuttle in the second position is aligned with a second group of supports. The shuttle disposes the conveyable material from each of the cars carrying the conveyable material to the second group of supports. A drive means repeatedly drives the shuttle between the first position and the second position. The cars remain the fixed distance apart during the driving between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A valve control system for regulating fluid flow in a high pressure system, the control mechanism including a valve slidable within a cartridge, said cartridge carrying a seat, said valve being movable between a first position permitting high pressure fluid flow from a source to the exit of a gun, to a second position blocking passage of said fluid through said exit.

Abstract: In a cellular radio communications system, using for example spread-spectrum communication, handoff between signals in different cells or in different sectors of sectored cells can be used to provide diversity reception at a mobile station and at cell sites and so to improve the reliability of data decoding. In sectored cells the diversity between signals in adjacent sectors can be low if the fading of the signals is correlated. The invention thus improves diversity gain by prioritising handoff between sectors or cells providing or expected to provide greater signal diversity over handoff between sectors providing or expected to provide less signal diversity, such as between adjacent sectors in sectored cells. Signals are therefore selected for diversity combining on the basis of both signal strength and signal diversity.

Abstract: A baseband signal modulator provides a phase and amplitude modulated carrier signal. First and second phase modulators each receive a common reference signal and derive therefrom a carrier signal frequency. The phase modulators each receive a respective pair of phase-encoded data signals so as to provide respective first and second phase-encoded carrier. The modulator outputs are summed to provide the phase and amplitude modulated carrier signal. Each phase modulator includes a respective phase locked loop incorporating an oscillator locked via the common reference signal to the carrier signal frequency, and a phase adder having a first input for receiving the carrier frequency signal and having second and third inputs for receiving the respective pair of data encoded signals.

Abstract: A method is described for grinding a composite workpiece to form a component having concentric and eccentric cylindrical regions.

Abstract: A computer system for supporting a website, comprises a navigation object table defining a number of navigation objects, representing a tree-like navigational structure, and an object handler which uses the table dynamically to construct menus allowing a user to navigate through the navigational structure. Whenever the object handler is called, it is passed a tag identifying an object. It then searches the navigation object table to find objects whose parent object in the tree structure is the object identified by this tag, using these objects to construct the menu. The navigation objects include menu objects specifying subsidiary menus in the tree structure, and selection of one of the menu objects causes a recursive call to the object handler, passing it the tag of the menu object. The system also includes an access control table indicating which users may access which navigation objects, and the object handler uses this access control table to tailor the menus for particular users.