Abstract: A telecommunications network participant, comprising means for digitising, as a series of samples, a received signal containing a succession of symbols, means for measuring time misalignment between the symbols and the samples and means for applying a fractional delay to the positions of the samples to reduce the misalignment.

Abstract: Compounds represented by the following general formula: [wherein Ag is an optionally substituted 5- to 14-membered heterocyclic group, etc.; Xg is —O—, —S—, etc.; Yg is an optionally substituted C6-14 aryl group, an optionally substituted 5- to 14-membered heterocyclic group, etc.; and Tg1 is a group represented by the following general formula: (wherein Eg is a single bond or —N(Rg2)—, Rg1 and Rg2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted C1-6 alkyl group, etc. and Zg represents a C1-8 alkyl group, a C3-8 alicyclic hydrocarbon group, a C6-14 aryl group, etc.)], salts thereof or hydrates of the foregoing.

Abstract: This invention relates to adhesive systems using imines and salts thereof and precursors to electron deficient olefins.

Abstract: An acoustic protective panel for the fitting of a wall of a vehicle, has an upper porous layer, in particular with a felt or remelted flexible foam base, at least one zone of the porous layer being arranged on one sealing layer, the sealing layer being arranged on one backing layer (5) with a flexible polyurethane base forming a spring, said sealing layer being formed by impregnation on a portion of the thickness of the porous layer by the polyurethane of the backing layer overmolding the porous layer. Architectures for mounting such a panel are described.

Abstract: A method is provided for authenticating micro-processor cards to determine whether a card is a genuine card or a fake card. Authentication is performed by a checking program of at least one card reader terminal. The program sends to each card commands belonging to a standard and public set of commands. The method includes: modifying the checking program in the terminal or terminals, in such a way that the program additionally sends, to each card to be authenticated, at least one additional command, called a secret command, from a set of at least one additional command, pre-inserted into each genuine card, and different from the standard and public set of commands; and a step of detecting authenticity of the card, if the secret command is recognised and/or processed correctly, or the presence of a clone, if the secret command is not recognised and/or is processed wrongly.

Abstract: A break-open over-and-under rifle (21) comprising an upper barrel (23s) and a lower barrel (23i) assembled close to a breech (24) thereof in a sleeve (A) to which an action body (B) is hinged through a hinge pin (P), two symmetrical side seats (30) being made on the sides of the sleeve (A) at the sides of the upper barrel (23s) close to the lower barrel (23i) and close to the breech (24) of the barrels, each side seat (30) being intended to receive an extractor (60a, 60b) in sliding engagement actuated by a spring (6), for each of the extractors (60a, 60b) selector means (70) being foreseen fixedly connected to the sleeve (A) each able to be positioned in an engagement position of the corresponding extractor (60a, 60b) intended to limit its sliding or in a disengagement position of the corresponding extractor (60a, 60b) intended to allow it to slide freely.

Abstract: A suspension member for a diaphragm, the suspension member comprising an inner portion being adapted to be attached to a substantially stiff piston part, a outer portion arranged on or integrated with a substantially stiff support member so as to mechanically stabilize the suspension member, and a flexible member connecting the inner and outer portions. The present invention further relates to an electro-acoustic transducer, preferably a miniature electro-acoustic transducer, applying such suspension member.

Abstract: It is a purpose of the present invention to provide a video encoding apparatus and a video decoding apparatus which are capable of providing real-time processing having improved coding performance. A video encoding apparatus AA includes an inter-encoding predicted value generating unit 2 configured to receive, as input signals, an input image a, a local decoded value d acquired from an encoded block, prediction direction information e acquired from the encoded block, and interpolation filter initial control information b. The inter-encoding predicted value generating unit 2 includes a filter control unit 21. The filter control unit 21 extracts the tap size N of the interpolation filter and the initial value c0(i,j) of the filter coefficient of the interpolation filter from the interpolation filter initial control information b, and uses the initial value c0(i,j) of the filter coefficient of the interpolation filter as the filter coefficient c(i,j) of the interpolation filter.

Abstract: A folding chock for recreational boats and the like has a flush-mounted body member, a foldable chock member and a detent mechanism. The flush-mounted body member has facilities for mounting on an associated boat surface, requiring only screw-diameter holes drilled in the boat surface. The foldable chock member lies flat when not in use, and upright when extended for holding a rope. A detent mechanism keeps the foldable chock member in either the extended or retracted position until it is changed by a force exerted on the foldable chock member.

Abstract: A folding push-pole holder for recreational boats and the like has a flush-mounted body member, a foldable hook member and a detent mechanism. The flush-mounted body member has facilities for mounting on an associated boat surface, requiring only screw-diameter holes drilled in the boat surface. The foldable hook member lies flat when not in use, and upright when extended for holding a pole. A detent mechanism keeps the foldable hook member in either the extended or retracted position until it is changed by a force exerted on the foldable hook member.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention relates to a power converter formed with an error amplifier and a related method. In an embodiment, a first switch is coupled in series with an error amplifier compensation capacitor. Upon detection of a current level greater than a threshold level, the compensation capacitor is decoupled from the error amplifier by opening the first switch. In an embodiment, a second switch is coupled in parallel with the compensation capacitor, and the current-sensing circuit enables conductivity of the second switch to discharge the compensation capacitor upon detection of the current level greater than the threshold level. The second switch is opened upon detection of the current level less than the threshold level. In an embodiment, the current-sensing circuit controls an output current of the power converter at a current-limit level upon detection of the internal current level greater than the threshold level.

Abstract: An apparel or material which may be placed anywhere or worn about the neck or other parts of the body of a human. The apparel/material has a structure that, when repositioned from about the wearer, will retain a position about a mouth and nose of the human, as by elasticity or taughtness of a wrapping about the face. The apparel is sufficiently porous as to allow a human to breath comfortably through the fabric when placed over the mouth and nose of the human. The fabric has as a coating is created with on at least the outer surface and through at least 25% of the thickness of the fabric a moisture-sensitive antimicrobial composition, wherein the antimicrobial moisture-sensitive composition comprises an antimicrobially active compound and a carrier, the carrier by hydrophilic and able to absorb sufficient moisture from exhaled breath from the human as to maintain a wet surface on the carrier to which viral particles will adhere more strongly than to a dry surface of the same carrier.

Abstract: A current mode DC-DC controller operates with high efficiency even when the input and output voltages are close. Switches selectively connecting an input, ground and an output to inductor terminals are controlled in a buck/boost region to alternate between operation as a buck converter and operation as a boost converter. The number of switches repeatedly changing state is thus reduced, lowering switching losses and improving conversion efficiency. Current through the inductor during operation is sensed and compared to an error value to control switching from buck mode operation to boost mode operation and back.

Abstract: An embodiment of a circuit for driving an under-damped system comprises first and second signal generators. The first generator is operable to generate a first drive signal. And the second generator is operable to receive the first drive signal and a second drive signal, and to generate from the first and second drive signals a system drive signal having a first amplitude for a first duration and having a second amplitude after the first duration, the system drive signal operable to cause the under-damped system to operate in a substantially damped manner. Either or both of the first and second generators may be programmable such that one may adjust the response of any under-damped system by generating an appropriate drive signal instead of by physically modifying the system itself.

Abstract: A flow meter for measurement of a metered fluid has a sensor element that receives a flow input of a metered fluid and outputs a flow output of the metered fluid, and a battery element. The sensor element has an inductor element and a magnetic element coupled to the inductor element. In response to movement of the magnetic element relative to the inductor element caused by a fluid pressure differential of the metered fluid, the inductive value of the inductor element changes.

Abstract: A circuit comprises a frequency divider configured to receive an oscillating signal generated by an oscillator and to divide the oscillating signal into a clock signal, wherein the division ratio of the frequency divider is set to a value equal to one of: the integer part of the resonant frequency of the oscillator and the integer part of the resonant frequency of the oscillator plus 1.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a receiver, system and method for channel estimation in a communications system utilizing multiple transmit antennas are provided. The receiver comprises an antenna node operable to receive a signal that includes a superposition of at least a first signal corresponding to a first sequence and a second signal corresponding to a second sequence; and a channel estimator, coupled to the antenna node, operable to correlate the received signal with at least one of the first and second sequences, to determine at least one boundary between at least two waveforms resulting from the correlation, and to calculate using the boundary and the at least two waveforms a first channel response corresponding to the first signal and a second channel response corresponding the second signal. Channel estimates are determined based on determined boundaries and may be smoothed by a Savitzky-Golay filter in the frequency domain. The variance of additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) may also be estimated.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a transmitter includes first and second processing blocks, which may each include hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The first processing block is operable to generate a first peak-reducing vector. And the a second first processing block is operable to receive a first data vector, the data vector comprising a plurality of samples, the first data vector having a first peak with a first index and a first magnitude, a second peak with a second index and a second magnitude that is less than the first magnitude, and a first peak-to-average power ratio, and to generate a second data vector having a second peak-to-average power ratio that is lower than the first peak-to-average power ratio by using the first peak-reducing vector.

Abstract: A circuit comprises a frequency divider coupled to receive an oscillating signal generated by an oscillator and a division ratio and configured to divide the oscillating signal by the division ratio into a clock signal; a temperature compensation circuit configured to measure a temperature of the oscillator and generate a division ratio to be provided to the frequency divider and a first value on the basis of the measured temperature; and a control system configured to control connection between a calibration element and the oscillator based on the first value and the oscillating signal of the oscillator.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes generating a regulated output signal from a regulated intermediate signal in response to a reference signal and the regulated output signal, and generating the regulated intermediate signal from an input signal in response to the regulated output signal and the regulated intermediate signal. By generating one regulated signal (e.g., a regulated output voltage) from another regulated signal (e.g., a regulated intermediate voltage), one may significantly reduce the magnitude of the ripple component of the one regulated signal as compared to a conventional regulation technique. Furthermore, by generating the regulated intermediate signal in response to the regulated output signal, one may significantly increase the efficiency of the regulation as compared to conventional signal regulation.