Abstract: An inceptor apparatus (10) for controlling a vehicle, in particular an aircraft comprises a control stick (15) for operation by a user and a user feedback generator (28) coupled to the control stick and configured to receive signals from a vehicle condition indicator (40) remote from the inceptor apparatus. The apparatus also has a first vehicle condition sensor (54,56) dedicated to the operation of the inceptor apparatus. In a first mode of operation, the user feedback generator (28) is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the vehicle condition indicator (40). In a second mode of operation, in the event that no signal is received from the vehicle condition indicator (40), the user feedback generator (28) is operable to generate tactile feedback to the user via the control stick in dependence upon signals received from the first vehicle condition sensor (54,56).

Abstract: A vibration damping counterbalance unit for an inceptor apparatus having a wall defining a cavity; and a plurality of vibration damping masses housed within the cavity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for classifying range profiles, generated for example by a radar, lidar or sonar. In the method, each in a set of objects of interest is modeled with a probabilistic model. The probabilistic model represents the probabilities of occurrence of different possible sequences of distances between selected features of the object, in different orientations, that are likely to result in peaks of backscatter in a range profile of the object. The probabilistic model is derived from a first probabilistic representation of each selected feature, generated to represent the uncertainty in locating the feature and the uncertainty in observing the feature in a range profile. Classification is achieved by calculating, for each probabilistic model, the probability that the model would generate a given sequence of distances between observed backscatter events in a given range profile.

Abstract: An image combiner for a viewing device, such as a night vision device, is disclosed for combining a first image, such as generated symbology, with a second image, such as a view of an outside scene in reduced lighting conditions. A waveguide is provided for capturing the first image from a first viewing direction, and for directing the first image in a second viewing direction, the second viewing direction being substantially coincident with a viewing direction of the second image, such that the first image can combine with the second image. At least a portion of the waveguide is arranged to substantially transmit the second image, such that the second image can pass substantially through the waveguide.

Abstract: An electronic fuze system comprising a fuze setter (110) and electronic fuze (112), wherein signals are transmitted between the fuze setter (110) and the electronic fuze (112) by a radio-frequency electromagnetic coupling link which facilitates data transmission via a wireless communication standard between a first induction-loop antenna (116) and a second induction-loop antenna (118) driven by the electronic fuze.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing measurements of an acoustic wave, the acoustic wave being within a member (12) made of a composite material and caused by an impact to the member (12), the method comprising: analyzing the measurements to detect an initial acoustic wave feature; analyzing the measurements to detect the presence of further acoustic wave features, the further features occurring after the initial feature; if there are no further acoustic wave features, determining that the impact to the member (12) has not changed the structure of the member (12); if there are further features, determining a value of a function of the further acoustic wave features; if the determined value satisfies certain criteria, determining that the impact has changed the structure of the member (12); and if the determined value does not satisfy the criteria, determining that the impact has not changed the structure of the member (12).

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling electronic devices to be used in the vacuum of space is described. a window frame is provided as packaging for an electronic device having a substrate and a chip. The window frame includes an opening to allow a heat pipe to be in direct contact with a backside of the chip. The window frame is hermetically sealed to the backside of the chip. The window frame is also welded to a kovar ring located on the backside of the chip to provide a hermetic seal between the window frame and the substrate.

Abstract: A method for detecting target material or explosives using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance, comprises the steps of providing a sample material to test for a target material. The sample material is then irradiated with a first frequency from a continuous wave signal generator to create at least one sample material return frequency. A return frequency is then measured and it is determined whether the sample material contains the target material by comparing the return frequency to a known target material frequency in a library. The method allows for simultaneous irradiation of sample material and measuring the return frequency of the sample material. The method utilizes NQR to detect explosive material using a power safe for human scanning and testing.

Abstract: An air vehicle powered by a gas turbine engine, particularly, but not exclusively, an air vehicle having a blended wing body includes a gas turbine engine disposed in the body of the vehicle including an inlet face. An inlet channel having a convoluted geometry is configured such that air flow incident on the inlet face during operation is disordered. A structural element associated with the inlet channel and locate upstream of the inlet face is provided. The element is configured to modulate air flow, at least partially, to improve flow ordering in the incident air.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of applying a non-secure warning tone to a packetized voice signal which includes receiving a voice signal containing a sequence of voice samples; providing a non-secure warning tone signal containing a plurality of tone samples; and modifying the voice signal by selectively including tone samples in the sequence of voice samples.

Abstract: A cavity system that tends to increase the thickness (28) of the shear layer (22), comprising: a cavity (2) and a plurality of rods (4), for example between two and six rods; the rods (4) are positioned in the proximity of a leading edge (14) of the cavity (2) and extending across at least a part of a width of the cavity (2) in a perpendicular or oblique angle to the actual or intended flow direction (6). One or more of the rods (4) may be positioned further along the flow direction (6) compared to one or more of the other rods (4), for example to provide a zig-zag pattern of rod positions. One or more flow alteration elements (34, 38), for example channels (34) passing through the rods (4) and/or protrusions (38) extending from the rods (4), may be provided on one or more of the rods (4).

Abstract: The present invention relates to air cooling of equipment and is more particularly, although not exclusively, concerned with the use of air at ambient temperature to effect cooling of electronic equipment. Accordingly, there is provided ambient air cooling apparatus comprising: a chamber in which items to be cooled are located; an air inlet; at least one air outlet; at least one fan for drawing air from said air inlet, through said chamber and over the items to be cooled, and to said at least one air outlet; a heater for heating air within said cooling apparatus; and a controller for controlling the operation of said heater and said at least one fan.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a waveguide for a display apparatus comprising providing a planar optical waveguide part (20), depositing upon the optical waveguide part a fluid material (11) curable to form an optically transparent solid, impressing (30) upon the fluid material an impression defining an input diffraction grating region, an intermediate diffraction grating region and an output diffraction grating region wherein the fluid material of the intermediate diffraction grating region is continuous with the fluid material of at least the input diffraction grating region, curing (45) the impressed fluid material to solidify said impression. The physical location of the input diffraction grating is 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 method for fabricating electronic and photonic devices on a semiconductor substrate using complementary-metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology is disclosed. A substrate is initially patterned to form a first region for accommodating electronic devices and a second region for accommodating photonic devices. The substrate within the first region is thicker than the substrate within the second region. Next, an oxide layer is formed on the substrate. The oxide layer within the first region is thinner than the oxide layer within the second region. A donor wafer is subsequently placed on top of the oxide layer. The donor substrate includes a bulk silicon substrate, a sacrificial layer and a silicon layer. Finally, the bulk silicon substrate and the sacrificial layer are removed from the silicon layer such that the silicon layer remains on the oxide layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of processing radio frequency signals, the method including: obtaining a signal indicative of a first frequency (e.g. by obtaining a sample of a transmitted signal), the first frequency being a frequency of the transmitted signal; and using the signal indicative of a first frequency, establishing a second frequency depending on the first frequency, the second frequency being a frequency to which to tune a filter for filtering a received signal. An antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a signal may be a co-site antenna with respect to at least one other antenna.

Abstract: A cavity system that tends to increase the thickness (28) of the shear layer (22), comprising: a cavity (2) and a plate (104); the plate (104) comprising a plurality of holes (4) through it, wherein the proportion of the area of the plate (104) taken up by the holes is ?60%, for example ?75% or ?90%; the plate (104) being positioned in the proximity of a leading edge (14) of the cavity (2); the surface of the plate (104) at a perpendicular or oblique angle to the actual or intended flow direction (6). The plate (104) may be positioned at an oblique angle to the flow direction (6). One or more flow alteration elements, for example elongate members (34) positioned across the holes and/or members (38) positioned directly behind or in front of the holes (4).

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detecting a fault condition in a network, making use of standard parameter data generated by a network termination device of a user of the network, the method comprising, in a training phase, the remote retrieval of selected parameters from a predetermined set of users' network termination devices in order to generate one or more representative models of expected operational status using the retrieved parameters and, in a monitoring phase, determining a measure of operational status for the set of users at some future time and comparing that with a corresponding expected model measure. Parameter retrieval takes place over substantially the same path through the network as used to supply services to a respective network termination device so that the models are generated in respect of communications over those elements of network infrastructure likely to affect operational status of the respective set of users in the event of a fault condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for capturing dynamically selectable data streams from a communications network substantially at network line rates and for routing packets in selected data streams to one or more pre-assigned outputs by means of multiple selectable data processing queues.

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: Techniques and architecture are disclosed for providing an optical system having an on-axis, internally mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU). In some cases, an IMU may be mounted within an interior region/cavity of an inner housing, which in turn is configured to rotate within an outer housing. In some instances, a mirror assembly may be operatively coupled with the inner housing and permitted to rotate simultaneously with the IMU. Rotation of the inner housing may be achieved, in some example cases, by use of a suitable motor. In some instances, positioning componentry may be operatively coupled with one or more of the IMU and/or mirror assembly. Improvements in mechanical stability, system dimensions, and/or protection from external/environmental hazards may be realized, in some example cases.