Abstract: A method of controlling a brushless permanent magnet motor includes measuring a mains power supply voltage of the motor. The method includes determining whether the mains power supply voltage lies within a first range representative of a first country's mains power supply or a second range representative of a second country's mains power supply. The method includes advancing commutation of a winding of the motor relative to a zero-crossing of back EMF in the winding where the mains power supply voltage lies within the first range, and retarding commutation of the winding relative to a zero-crossing of back EMF in the winding where the mains power supply voltage lies within the second range.

Abstract: A mobile robot that includes a control system, a task execution system and a drive system, the control system configured to monitor the task execution system and drive system, wherein the control system comprises an error detection unit, the error detection unit configured to detect a first error in the task execution system and a second error in the drive system, and further configured to determine that a third error has occurred if it detects the first error and the second error at the same time.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes a laser diode for illuminating debris located upon a region of a work surface located in front of the cleaner head with green light.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaner includes an optical system located towards one side of the cleaner head. The optical system includes a light source and at least one light shaping component for receiving light emitted from the light source and directing the light towards a planar work surface on which the cleaner head is disposed to illuminate debris located upon a region of the work surface. This region upon which debris is illuminated is in the shape of a sector. A central axis of the sector is aligned at an angle in the range from 35 to 65° to a front edge of the cleaner head, and one of the radii bounding the sector is aligned at an acute angle of less than 20° to the front edge of the cleaner head.

Abstract: A method of generating a plasma is provided. The method uses a plasma antenna having a length, the method including driving an electrical conductor of the plasma antenna with RF frequency current to generate plasma both at a first location and at a second location spaced apart from the first location in a direction along the length of the antenna, there being a region adjacent to the antenna between the first location and the second location at which the generation of plasma is curtailed as a result of at least one shield member.

Abstract: A method of preparing an elongate web of sheet material for dividing into discrete stacks of web portions after reeling the web onto a drum is provided. The method includes forming transverse discontinuities in the web at spaced intervals corresponding to edges of the discrete stacks to be formed, the intervals progressively increasing along the web so that the discontinuities form angularly-aligned groups when reeled onto the drum.

Abstract: A dental treatment appliance transmits a pulsed light signal towards the oral cavity and captures images of the oral cavity from light returned from the oral cavity. A controller actuates the treatment of the oral cavity of the user depending on the captured images.

Abstract: An electrical device including a surface which may be exposed to heat derived from operation of the electrical device such that the temperature of the surface increases during operation. The surface includes a temperature sensor including first and second electrodes separated by a layer of control material. The material properties and/or configuration of the control material are selected such that the electrical conductivity of the control material increases with increasing temperature so that electrical current is able to pass between the first and second electrodes once the temperature of any part of the control material has reached or exceeded a predetermined temperature. The temperature sensor extends over substantially the whole of the surface. A system including the electrical device and a method of controlling the electrical device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method including providing, on a substrate, first and second stacks for an energy storage device with a groove therebetween is provided. The first and second stacks each, respectively, include a first electrode layer on the substrate, an electrolyte layer on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer on the electrolyte layer. A first material is deposited within the groove and a second material is deposited over the first stack, the first material and the second stack to electrically connect the second electrode layers of the first and second stacks, via the second material. The first material prevents the second material from contacting the first electrode layer of the first and second stacks and the electrolyte layer of the first and second stacks, to electrically insulate the first electrode layer of the first and second stacks and the electrolyte layer of the first and second stacks from the second material.

Abstract: A battery cell including an electrode assembly contained within a housing. The electrode assembly shrinks and/or swells depending on a charge/discharge cycle of the cell. A swelling compensation member configured to shrink upon swelling of the electrode assembly, and expand upon on shrinking of the electrode assembly is in continuous contact with the electrode assembly and an innermost surface of the housing. A first portion of the innermost surface of the housing is in contact with the swelling compensation member, and a second portion is free from contact with the swelling compensation member. The battery cell includes a cooling member in thermal contact with the outermost surface of the housing. Part of the outermost surface of the housing in contact with the cooling member corresponds to a part of the innermost surface of the housing which is free from contact with the swelling compensation member.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes an agitator assembly including a cylindrical body configured to rotate about its longitudinal axis; a main body defining an agitator chamber within which is supported the agitator assembly and a suction opening through which a portion of the agitator assembly engages a surface to be cleaned. The main body has opposing ends and a first exhaust channel in fluid communication with the agitator chamber. The main body is configured such that the cross-sectional area of the agitator chamber increases in a direction from one of the opposing ends of the agitator chamber towards the first exhaust channel.

Abstract: A drum arranged for reeling and dividing an elongate web of sheet material to produce discrete stacks of web portions is provided. The drum includes a series of faces forming a web-receiving loop that extends around a central axis of the drum, each face of the drum being defined by a respective drum segment that is configured to support a respective stack of web portions of a web reeled onto the web-receiving loop. The drum segments are movable to enable the web-receiving loop to expand to increase tension in a web reeled onto the web-receiving loop to divide the elongate web into discrete stacks.

Abstract: A compressor comprising: a stator assembly comprising a plurality of stator elements; a rotor assembly comprising a shaft to which is mounted at least one bearing, a permanent magnet and an impeller; a support body; and an outer can comprising an air inlet. The support body comprises a hollow elongate central part to which is mounted the at least one bearing, and inside which the magnet is positioned, the elongate central part comprising a plurality of openings, and the air inlet of the outer can is axially aligned at least partially with the plurality of openings in the elongate central part.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a battery cathode for a solid state battery is provided. The method includes generating a plasma remote from one or more targets suitable for forming cathodes, such as LiCoO2, exposing the plasma target or targets to the plasma, thereby generating sputtered material from the target or targets, and depositing sputtered material on a first portion of a substrate, thereby forming crystalline material, such as LiCoO2 on the first portion of the substrate.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner is provided for cleaning a surface. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a tool, a projection surface, and a projector. The tool has a connector end for connection to the main body and a cleaner end opposite the connector end. The projection surface is provided on the tool, for displaying projected information thereon. The projector is configured for casting a projection including the projected information onto the projection surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a crystalline layer of material on a surface, the crystalline layer including lithium, at least one transition metal and at least one counter-ion. The method includes the following steps: generating a plasma using a remote plasma generator, plasma sputtering material from a first target including lithium onto a surface of or supported by a substrate, there being at least a first plume corresponding to trajectories of particles from the first target onto the surface, and plasma sputtering material from a second target including at least one transition metal onto the surface, there being at least a second plume corresponding to trajectories of particles from the second target onto the surface. The first target is positioned to be non-parallel with the second target, the first plume and the second plume converge at a region proximate to the surface of or supported by the substrate, and the crystalline layer is formed on the surface at the region.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a vacuum cleaning appliance includes a housing which defines a suction chamber. The suction chamber has a suction inlet through which air enters the suction chamber, and a suction port through which air exits the suction chamber. The cleaner head includes a plurality of casters for supporting the cleaner head. Each caster is rotatable relative to the housing about a first axis which is perpendicular to the suction inlet. Each caster is also rotatable relative to the housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The cleaner head further includes a plurality of guide members for guiding into the suction chamber debris entrained within air drawn towards the suction inlet. Each guide member is arranged to rotate with a respective caster about the first axis.

Abstract: A method of depositing a material on a substrate is provided. The method includes generating a plasma remote from one or more sputter targets suitable for plasma sputtering, wherein at least one distinct region of the one or more targets includes an alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, alkali metal containing compound, alkaline earth metal containing compound or a combination thereof; generating sputtered material from the target or targets using the plasma; and depositing the sputtered material on the substrate, the working distance between the target and the substrate being within +/?50% of the theoretical mean free path of the system.