Abstract: Frequency divider techniques are disclosed which can be used to address two problems: when an incorrect division occurs if the modulus control changes before the divide cycle is complete, and when an incorrect division occurs due to a boundary crossing (e.g., power-of-2 boundary crossing in a fractional-N PLL application). In one embodiment, a frequency divider is provided comprising a plurality of flip-flops operatively coupled to carry out division of an input frequency, and configured to generate a modulus output and receive a divided clock signal of a previous cell. An additional flip-flop is selectively clocked off one of the modulus output or the divided clock of the previous stage, depending at least in part on a Skip control signal applied to a data input of the additional flip-flop, and is further configured to selectively reset the plurality of flip-flops to a state that will result in a correct divide ratio.

Abstract: A device for liquid cooling an electric motor having a rotor and a stator includes at least one cooling liquid applicator arranged to apply cooling liquid onto the stator. The cooling liquid applicator is moveably arranged relative to the stator so that the cooling liquid by means of movement of the cooling liquid applicator is applied onto different areas of the stator. A method for liquid cooling an electric motor and a platform that includes the device are also described.

Abstract: A method of producing an assembly tool (60) for assembling an assembly (6), the method comprising: providing at least a portion of a jig frame (62); fixing support plates (65) to the jig frame (62); machining the one or more support plates (65) such that a surface of each of the support plates (65) lies in a common plane (130); positioning the jig frame (62) such that the machined surfaces of the support plates (65) contact with a supporting surface (138); fixing pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) to the jig frame (62); machining, with respect to the supporting surface (138), the pickup device mounting plates (140a, 140b) such that a surface of each mounting plate (140a, 40b) has a respective predetermined position and orientation with respect to the supporting surface (138); and fixing, to the machined surfaces of the mounting plates (140a, 140b), a respective pickup device (66-72).

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for thermal adaptation, comprising at least one surface element arranged to assume a determined thermal distribution, said surface element comprising a first heat conducting layer, a second heat conducting layer, said first and second heat conducting layers being mutually thermally isolated by means of an intermediate insulation layer, wherein at least one thermoelectric element is arranged to generate a predetermined temperature gradient to a portion of said first layer. The invention also relates to an object such as a craft.

Abstract: A robust, durable, easy to use, reusable shipping container is disclosed that is capable of protecting contents from surrounding high temperatures up to 1000 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of at least three and a half hours. The container includes an inner chamber surrounded by an outer chamber. A phase change liquid (PCL) is sequestered in a porous support matrix contained in the inner chamber, while the outer chamber is filled with high temperature insulation, forming an outer barrier layer that is designed to reduce heat flux into the inner chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for supplying fluid to an actuator comprising a variable speed prime mover drivingly coupled to a variable displacement hydraulic pump. The system is configured to deliver hydraulic fluid via fluid conduits to an actuator. It may deliver hydraulic fluid to an actuator at a first hydraulic pressure at a first rate of pressure rise; and at a second hydraulic pressure at a second rate of pressure rise. The first hydraulic pressure may be greater than the second hydraulic pressure; and the first hydraulic rate of pressure rise may be lower than the second hydraulic rate of pressure rise.

Abstract: A driver circuit for an LED display for switching a light-emitting diode (LED) between a non-luminous state and a luminous state for producing light for a display, the driver circuit comprising an LED, a drive current controller (10) arranged to selectively open and close a drive current flow path (8) through the LED (2) thereby selectively to switch the LED between a non-luminous state and a luminous state, a charge injector unit (13) for inputting charge into the LED to store said charge within the LED via the junction capacitance (3) thereof, a control unit (12) arranged to control the charge injector unit to input said charge into the LED concurrently with the opening of the drive current flow path.

Abstract: An aircraft-side aircraft data retrieval system and method, comprising: a data storage device (14) located in an aircraft (2) adapted to, during a flight, store data acquired during the flight; a transmission element (50), for example a dielectric filled hole or a coaxial transmission line assembly, in an external panel (9) of the aircraft (2); and wireless apparatus (18) adapted to wirelessly transmit, after the aircraft (2) has landed, the stored data to a ground-side data retrieval system (6) via the transmission element (50).

Abstract: An imaging array and method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The imaging array includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of VIS pixel sensors and a plurality of SWIR readout circuits fabricated therein. An insulating layer is deposited on the semiconductor substrate. The insulating array has wells overlying the SWIR pixel sensors. A plurality of SWIR photodiodes are deposited in the wells. Each SWIR photodiode is located in a corresponding one of the wells and is connected by an electrically conducting path with the SWIR readout circuit underlying the SWIR photodiode. An electrically conducting transparent electrode overlying the SWIR photodiodes is connected to each of the SWIR photodiodes.

Abstract: A drive unit for a tracked vehicle includes a track support beam, at least one drive wheel, a set of support wheels and an endless track, the drive wheel being arranged to drive the endless track running over the drive wheel and the set of support wheels. The drive wheel and the support wheels are rotatably attached in the track support beam. The drive unit further includes and electric motor attached to the drive wheel and integrated in the track support beam, and a support beam integrated lubrication system having a pump unit arranged for pressurized supply of lubricant to parts of the drive unit in need of lubrication.

Abstract: A data processing method is disclosed for processing hyperspectral image data of a scene. The method comprises sequentially receiving portions of the data at a data buffer to form a data set comprising a predefined number of data portions and calculating a set of global statistical parameters and data correction factors using the data forming the data set. The method further comprises receiving a further data portion at the data buffer and simultaneously removing the earliest received data portion at the data buffer, from the data set, and subsequently calculating a set of local statistical parameters using the data of the further data portion. The method further comprises updating the set of global statistical parameters using the set of local statistical parameters and correcting the data of the data portion removed from the data set using the correction factors.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to a missile canister that utilizes a variable obturator assembly. The variable obturator assembly can include a plurality of gates that adjust based upon canister pressure at a base plate. In a maximum pressure situation experienced during successful missile egress from the canister, one or more of the gates can open in response to canister flyout pressure so as to increase flow area through the base plate, thereby reducing canister pressure. In a restrained firing scenario, the plurality of gates remain closed thereby preventing missile exhaust gases from flow up past the base plate which could lead to heating of a rocket motor and warhead. The variable obturator assembly can have multiple individual gates that are mounted to the base plate with a hinge assembly, with the gates held in a closed position against the base plate with a spring assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic charging and driving system (4), aircraft employing the same, and corresponding methods, for extending and retracting a hydraulic actuator (2), comprising: a motor assembly (22); and an accumulator assembly (20), the motor assembly (22) and the accumulator assembly (20) being hydraulically coupled to each other; wherein the motor assembly (22) is arranged to recharge the accumulator assembly (20) with hydraulic fluid at a relatively slow rate that is slower than the rate at which the accumulator assembly (20) is arranged to discharge when actuating the hydraulic actuator (2). The system may further comprise a selector valve (24). The accumulator assembly (20) may comprise an accumulator chamber (30), and a compression means (32) provided within the accumulator chamber (30). The motor assembly (22) may comprise a motor (42) arranged to vary a volume of a hydraulic charging chamber (38) of the motor assembly (22).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a sequence of images of a scene, includes: a controller; a first module; and a second module; wherein the first module is arranged to perform an image registration process on the sequence to produce a registered set; the second module is arranged to perform a change detection process on the registered set; and the controller is arranged to provide: to the first module, an instruction to perform the image registration process on the sequence to produce the registered set; to the second module, an instruction to perform the change detection process on the registered set; and an instruction to transfer the registered set between the modules. The sequence of images may be a sub-sequence of a larger sequence. The apparatus can include a third module arranged to separate the larger sequence into sub-sequences.

Abstract: A waveguide for a display apparatus comprising a planar optical waveguide part (20) for guiding light to be displayed, an input diffraction grating (21) to diffract received light (7) along the optical waveguide part for guiding thereby, an intermediate diffraction grating (22) to receive diffracted light from the input diffraction grating and to expand the received light in a first dimension by diffraction (8), and an output diffraction grating (23) to receive the expanded light and to output the received expanded light (10) from the optical waveguide part by diffraction for display. The input diffraction grating is positioned so as to be located wholly within the geographical area of the intermediate grating, and the grating vectors of the input diffraction grating and the intermediate diffraction grating are oriented in different respective directions.

Abstract: A map display device stores a map image dataset with image pixels including a plurality of static-type pixels each having only one color value, and a plurality of dynamic-type pixels each having a predefined set of color values, and a function definition field which defines a function to select between said color values. A graphics processor processes one tile of map image data by, for each of the dynamic type pixels, retrieving the function identified by the function definition field, applying a current time value to the function, and selecting one of the predefined set of color values according to a result of the function. An output unit outputs the map image frame as a raster image containing one pixel color value at each of the pixels for display on a display screen.

Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a component including a rechargeable battery and a method of producing same. The component uses one of an acid and an alkaline chemistry and the battery has an anode structure, a cathode structure, and a separator structure which separates the anode from the cathode and contains an electrolyte. The anode structure and the cathode structure are each formed from a composite material which includes electrically conductive fibres and electrochemically active material in a binder matrix including less than 50% w/w of an elastomer binder and the battery is formed to be structurally inseparable from the rest of the component.

Abstract: There is disclosed a directional multi-band antenna comprising: a primary reflector, at least one secondary reflector, a multi-layer dielectric layer selectively reflective or transmissive of incident radiation according to wavelength, the layer being provided at the surface of either the primary or the secondary reflector, an RF unit comprising a collocated sensor and transmitter, an Optical unit comprising a collocated sensor and transmitter, arranged such that the primary reflector is for passing signals between the secondary reflector and the environment, the secondary reflector is firstly for passing signals between the primary reflector and the RF unit, and secondly for passing signals between the primary reflector and the Optical unit and arranged such that the antenna is operable to transmit or receive, RF or Optical signals, along a common beam axis.

Abstract: A method for protecting analog or mixed signal ICIP uses adjustment requirements of analog circuits to provide an obfuscated mechanism for preventing unauthorized use of an analog or mixed-signal IC (“AIC”) by disabling the AIC until application of an adjustment signal that is within a narrow enabling subrange. Embodiments significantly increase the adjustment range beyond the enabling subrange, and/or omit AIC tuning outputs that are not required for operation of the IC. Embodiments include “clipping” circuits that render the AIC outputs unresponsive to tuning signals outside of the enabling subrange. Information regarding the enabling subrange and/or a separate enabling IC can be provided to authorized users, and/or enabling bits of a digital adjustment input can be permanently set by the ICIP owner after AIC manufacture. The ICIP can be further protected by a security feature that can be unique to each AIC, and/or by using a two-foundry production method.

Abstract: A microwave module is described. The microwave module includes a base bracket, a window plate and a lid. The base bracket is configured to contain a photoconductive switch, a radio-frequency transformer and dielectric oil. The window plate, which is transparent to optical light, covers a first portion of the base bracket in which the photoconductive switch is located. The window plate is sealed to the base bracket. The lid, which includes a cutout to allow the radio-frequency transformer to pass through the lid, covers a second portion of the base bracket in which the radio-frequency transformer is located. The window plate is sealed to the base bracket, and the lid is sealed to the window plate, the base bracket and the radio-frequency transformer to contain the dielectric oil within the microwave module.