Abstract: A partial discharge detection system includes a plurality of partial discharge sensors mounted within an electrical switchgear cabinet and a monitoring device for monitoring the output of the plurality of sensors and outputting at least one output signal based on detected partial discharge activity. A related method for detecting partial discharge activity in an electrical switchgear cabinet, includes the steps of mounting a plurality of partial discharge sensors within the electrical switchgear cabinet and monitoring the output of the plurality of sensors and outputting at least one signal based on detected partial discharge activity.

Abstract: An electricity substation 11 receives a high voltage electricity supply and transforms it to a low voltage supply distributed to a plurality of properties 13. The substation 11 is also provided with a demand management unit 14 incorporating a load monitoring means 15 operable to measure the load on the or each low voltage supply cable 12 and each property 13 is provided with at least one intelligent socket 20 for high load appliances. The intelligent socket 20 comprises contacts 21 for making a connection with the conductors of the charging lead; a use monitor 22 operable to detect when a load (i.e. an electric vehicle) is drawn from the contacts 21; a switch 23 operable to disconnect or connect the electricity supply to the contacts; and a control unit 24. The control unit is operable to communicate with the demand management unit 14 via a suitable communications link 16.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding and/or selectively time-shifting the data packets in a predetermined manner to generate a modified information flow. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding and/or selectively time-shifting the data packets of the modified information flow to generate at least one further modified information flow. The further modified information flow may be obtained in a selected one of a plurality of parallel steps.

Abstract: A fault current passage indicator (100) is fitted around the earth conductor (11) of a pole (10) supporting a section of an overhead electricity distribution network. This is achieved by means of a clip (110) adapted to provide a loop of ferromagnetic material enclosing the earth conductor (11). The indicator 100 is operable to detect transient earth currents flowing in the earth conductor (11). This is achieved by the provision of a sensor coil (101) is fitted around the clip (110) such that a portion of the clip (110) passes through the core of the sensor coil (101). Detected incidents of transient earth currents are recorded by the indicator (100) and data relating thereto can be retrieved by use of a suitable reader device (200). The indicator (100) is further adapted to scavenge power for operation from either transient earth currents or the reader device (200).

Abstract: A method of allocating a priority level in an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets and allocating a priority level to each data packet is provided with a controller employing such method. The priority level may be determined in accordance with determining a class of loss of the data packet and a class of service for the data packet. The priority level is also a function of the current load of the information flow. It has been established that the choice for each degree of freedom should preferably be made independently and concurrently. The invention, therefore, provides a method for performing such a composite choice.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow including receiving a plurality of data packets and determining an offered load associated with the data packets. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding ones of the data packets as a function of the offered load to generate a transported load.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in an acyclic data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets, and allocating a priority level for each data packet including a class of loss for the data packet and a class of urgency of service for the data packet. The method and controller also include servicing the data packets in accordance with the priority levels and outputting the data packets at a configured rate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets having a received packet length and at a received sample rate. The method and controller also includes determining a configured packet length for each data packet based on a configured service rate for each data packet. The method and controller may also include scheduling each data packet in accordance with a respective configured packet length.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets having a received packet length and at a received sample rate. The method and controller also includes determining a configured packet length for each data packet based on a configured service rate for each data packet. The method and controller may also include scheduling each data packet in accordance with a respective configured packet length.

Abstract: A routing device for routing streams at a node in a packet transmission network receives a stream request, reads specified parameters and any values for loss and delay already incurred at preceding nodes in the network, or specified parameters as modified to take account of loss and delay already incurred at preceding nodes in the network, to determine in conjunction with existing streams already being handled by the routing device whether to accept or reject the stream, allocates one or more buffers to the stream if the stream request has been accepted, transmits the stream request with modified values for loss and delay, or with modified parameters to take account of loss and delay incurred at this and preceding nodes in the network if the stream request has been accepted, and returns a fail signal if the stream request has been rejected.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding and/or selectively time-shifting the data packets in a predetermined manner to generate a modified information flow. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding and/or selectively time-shifting the data packets of the modified information flow to generate at least one further modified information flow. The further modified information flow may be obtained in a selected one of a plurality of parallel steps.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets having a received packet length and at a received sample rate. The method and controller also includes determining a configured packet length for each data packet based on a configured service rate for each data packet. The method and controller may also include scheduling each data packet in accordance with a respective configured packet length.

Abstract: A method of allocating a priority level in an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets and allocating a priority level to each data packet is provided with a controller employing such method. The priority level may be determined in accordance with determining a class of loss of the data packet and a class of service for the data packet. The priority level is also a function of the current load of the information flow. It has been established that the choice for each degree of freedom should preferably be made independently and concurrently. The invention, therefore, provides a method for performing such a composite choice.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in an acyclic data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets, and allocating a priority level for each data packet including a class of loss for the data packet and a class of urgency of service for the data packet. The method and controller also include servicing the data packets in accordance with the priority levels and outputting the data packets at a configured rate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow including receiving a plurality of data packets and determining an offered load associated with the data packets. The method and controller also includes selectively discarding ones of the data packets as a function of the offered load to generate a transported load.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system. In one embodiment, the method and controller receives a plurality of data packets. The method and controller further generate a modified information flow by providing a variable spacing between the data packets that is exponentially distributed. The variable spacing between the data packets may be random or pseudo-random.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method and controller for controlling an information flow in a data transmission system including receiving a plurality of data packets, and allocating a packet identifier and a priority level to each data packet. The method and controller also include servicing each data packet identifier based on the priority level and outputting each data packet according to a sequence. The method and controller may further include selectively discarding ones of the data packets and selectively time-shifting ones of the data packets.

Abstract: There is described a hybrid furnace comprising a microwave source, and an enclosure for the confinement of both microwave and RF energy for containing an object to be heated. The microwave source is coupled to the enclosure. The furnace further includes an RF source coupled to the enclosure, and a controller for controlling the quantity of microwave energy and RF energy to which the object to be heated is exposed. There is also described a method of operating a furnace of the above type to the heat an object. The microwave source is actuated to induce an electric field to heat the object and the RF source is controlled to selectively provide an oscillating electric field within the object to be heated at a location at a temperature where the field strength of the microwave-induced electric field falls below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A microwave furnace (10) of the type comprising a microwave source (14), coupled to an enclosure for the confinement of microwaves and for containing an object to be heated (12). An independently controllable alternate heating (20) is disposed in relation to the enclosure (12) to provide at least one of radiant and convective heating within the enclosure. The method comprises the steps of energizing the alternate heater (20) so as to generate heat substantially throughout the heating cycle of the furnace (10) and controlling the quanity of heat generated in the object y one or both of the microwaves and the alternate heater so as to provide a desired thermal profile in the object. A temperature sensor to measure the ambient temperature within the enclosure (12) can be provided and control circuit (54) responsive to the sensed temperature controls the quanity of heat generated in the object by the microwaves and the alternate heat so as to provide a desired thermal profile within the object.

Abstract: An electric induction motor can be given a kick start without excessive current drain on the supply by first connecting a unidirectional supply to a winding of the motor to build up a stationary rotor flux and then applying a starting current to another winding of the motor to produce a stator flux at an appropriate angle (between 0.degree. and 180.degree.) with the stationary rotor flux. Once the motor has begun accelerating the normal running supply can be connected. This starting current may be derived from a capacitance which is charged up during the period of establishing the stationary rotor flux.