Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus and a method for separating solid particles from fluids and particularly gas flows. The apparatus is particularly for use in conjunction with an internal combustion engine or vacuum cleaner. The apparatus includes a cyclone separator which has at least two axial common cyclone separator elements, an inner and outer element, in conjunction with a two-stage electrostatic precipitator. The apparatus allows the filtration of fluid effectively, even if the flow varies over time.

Abstract: A data receiver and a method for adjusting the same are provided. The data receiver has an equalizer, a clock data recovery unit, an equalizer controller, and a decoder. The equalizer compensates incoming signal according to a configuration, and outputs corrected signal. The CDR unit uses a clock to sample the corrected signal from the equalizer and generates phase information of the clock. The decoder decodes the raw data. Each cycle of the clock is divided into a plurality of phases, and the phase information indicates the one of the phases that the corrected signal sampled therein. In a testing mode, the equalizer controller applies a plurality of setup values to the configuration individually and records the phase information for tuning the configuration. Therefore, the accuracy of the equalizer is improved and the good signal quality is obtained.

Abstract: A small arms projectile for a small arms weapon is provided within a cartridge cover (1). A release element (15) is provided for preventing movement of the projectile's initiator (11) into an armed position. A channel (5) is formed between the initiator (11) and the projectile's explosive charge (8) and a slidable shield (6) is provided therein. An insert element (10) is also located in the channel for preventing movement of the shield (6) into its armed position. The insert element (10) is held in place by the cartridge cover (1). When the projectile exits the cartridge cover (1) following firing, the insert element (10) is configured to move out of the channel (5) to allow the shield (6) to move into its armed position.

Abstract: A fan assembly for creating an air current includes a base having an air inlet and an air outlet, the base housing an impeller and a motor for rotating the impeller to create an air flow passing from the air inlet to the air outlet. The fan assembly further includes a vertically oriented, elongate annular nozzle including an interior passage having an air inlet for receiving the air flow from the base and a mouth for emitting the air flow, the nozzle defining an opening through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by the air flow emitted from the mouth.

Abstract: An audio amplifier includes a timing control circuit, an amplifying circuit, and a bias control circuit. The timing control circuit generates a first power down signal and a second power down signal, in which the first power down signal is asserted before the second power down signal is asserted. The amplifying circuit receives a bias voltage to amplify an audio signal and is deactivated when the first power down signal is asserted. The bias control circuit provides the bias voltage for the amplifying circuit and is deactivated when the second power down signal is asserted.

Abstract: There is provided a storage reel for storage of cable. The storage reel comprises a first cable reel having a first reeling surface arranged to store wound communication cable thereon, a second cable reel having a second reeling surface arranged to store wound communication cable thereon and a connecting member arranged to connect said first and second cable reels. The storage reel is rotatable about an axis such that, in use, the storage reel is operable to wind cable across both the first and second reeling surfaces.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for retrieving pictures from a large database that is less complex and uses significantly less memory and computational resources than current techniques. This is accomplished by determining representative data vectors based on a tolerance distance that represents data vectors in a given vector space that defines the picture to extract features of the picture that facilitates in retrieving pictures.

Abstract: The invention provides compounds of the formula: (I) having protein kinase B inhibiting activity: wherein A is a saturated hydrocarbon linker group containing from 1 to 7 carbon atoms, the linker group having a maximum chain length of 5 atoms extending between R1 and NR2R3 and a maximum chain length of 4 atoms extending between E and NR2R3, wherein one of the carbon atoms in the linker group may optionally be replaced by an oxygen or nitrogen atom; and wherein the carbon atoms of the linker group A may optionally bear one or more substituents selected from oxo, fluorine and hydroxy, provided that the hydroxy group when present is not located at a carbon atom a with respect to the NR2R3 group and provided that the oxo group when present is located at a carbon atom a with respect to the NR2R3 group; E is a monocyclic or bicyclic carbocyclic or heterocyclic group; R1 is an aryl or heteroaryl group; and R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined in the claims.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a power density in a laser device including a VCSEL array providing an increased power density at a high wall-plug efficiency in that the lateral design parameters are appropriately selected on the basis of a relationship that has been established for a specified vertical design, a corresponding process technology and specified operating conditions. Thus, the total output power, the power density, and the efficiency may be optimized independently from other design criteria and application requirements by tuning only the lateral size of the individual VCSEL elements and the pitch of nearest neighbors of the elements within the array. Hence, for a lateral size of less than 30 ?m and a pitch of less than 80 ?m, a highly efficient VCSEL array can be provided with a high power density, thereby optimizing manufacturing costs for the output power per chip area.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of tile-based belief propagation are disclosed. An image is split into a number of tiles. Messages are iteratively generated within each of the tiles based on the messages from neighboring pixels to the tile at a previous iteration, wherein each message represents information of a state of the pixel. The generated messages for sending out of the tiles are stored. Labels are then determined based on the stored messages, wherein each label represents the state of the pixel.

Abstract: System and method for automated scheduling and creation of gang shells specifying gangs of individual jobs for production to be created and produced in the future. Individual jobs and related production parameters and order information are retained electronically in a database of pending jobs awaiting production. Based on production capacity at the production facility and the production parameters of the individual pending jobs in the database, a plurality of gang shells having defined production parameters, but not having specific individual jobs associated therewith, are defined and used for scheduling equipment and personnel at the production facility during a work shift or other desired period of time. The specific individual jobs for a gang are selected from the database relatively shortly prior to the gang's scheduled production time.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting media content from a media content receiving device such as a set-top-box to one or more user devices capable of displaying, storing or outputting the media content. The method includes receiving, at the set-top-box, media content encoded according to a particular format, embedding in the media content, while it is encoded according to the particular format, a watermark containing data identifying the set-top-box and then transmitting the watermarked media content to one or more user devices. Encoding a watermark while the content is encoded according the received format allows protection to be added and the content passed to other devices without having to decode the content first. The method may be implemented by a suitable media content receiving device operating a computer program. A corresponding apparatus for implementing the method is provided.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer related to the OBCAM and NTM genes. The methods are particularly suited to ovarian and colorectal cancers.

Abstract: An electronic actuation system for a pressure equalizing device in a downhole apparatus such as a wellbore plug is described. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring pressure in the wellbore, and means for setting a reference pressure value using a measurement from the pressure sensor. In a method of use, an applied pressure value is determined using a measurement from the pressure sensor and the reference pressure value, and the device is actuated, or opened, when the applied pressure meets a pre-determined condition, such as falling within a pressure window for certain time period. The invention allows natural changes in wellbore pressure to be accounted for when detecting a pressure actuation event.

Abstract: A system and methodology for controlling multiple devices simultaneously from one control device. The control device is provided with a display having a plurality of windows, each having a visual representation related to the activity of the multiple devices. By relaying commands effected at the control device through an intermediary server, it is possible to simultaneously effect a corresponding processing of the same commands at each of the multiple devices. On effecting a command the multiple devices relay back, through the server, an image representative of the result of the processing of that command to the control device for display.

Abstract: A method of generating a position error signal for a desired radial position of a read/write head relative to a data track of a disk is disclosed. The track has a plurality of servo bursts defining a plurality of servo nulls for the track, and are positioned such that they are at more than four different radial positions relative to the track, and define a predetermined locus having a known position relationship with the track. The method comprises determining a target null position on the null locus corresponding to the radial position of the head relative to the track; detecting the position of the servo null with the head; determining from the detected servo null position the position error of the head relative to the target null position; and, generating a position error signal.

Abstract: A handle assembly for a cleaning appliance such as a vacuum cleaner includes a flexible hose having a first end that is connectable to a main body of the cleaning appliance and a second end, a handle portion for maneuvering the handle assembly during use and a tubular wand. The second end of the flexible hose is connected to the handle portion, and the tubular wand is slidably mounted in the handle portion so as to be movable between a first position in which the tubular wand extends beyond the handle portion inside the flexible hose and a second position in which the tubular wand extends beyond the handle portion away from the flexible hose.

Abstract: A chassis for a data storage device enclosure is disclosed. The chassis comprises a bay arranged to receive a module and a key in the bay. The bay key is constructed and arranged such that a module can be received in the bay only when said module has a corresponding module key. The bay key is manually reconfigurable by a user without use of a tool from a first configuration in which only a module having a corresponding first key can be received in the bay to a second configuration in which only a module having a corresponding second key, which is different from the first key, can be received in the bay.

Abstract: There is disclosed a spinstand for testing a head gimbal assembly. The spinstand includes a gripper operable to grip the head gimbal assembly and a load pick device operable to hold a head gimbal assembly and to move the head gimbal assembly into an exchange position where it can be gripped by the gripper. In the exchange position part of the load pick device registers with the gripper and another part of the load pick device is spaced from the gripper so as to form a space between, in which space at least part of the head gimbal assembly is located in use.

Abstract: A cleaner head for a cleaning appliance includes a rotatable agitator assembly, an agitator chamber housing the agitator assembly, and a sole plate defining a downwardly-directed opening through which debris energized by the agitator assembly enters the agitator chamber. A set of support members is located on a leading and trailing section of the sole plate, the support members extending downwardly beyond the sole plate to support the sole plate above a relatively hard floor surface. The lowermost extremities of the sets of support members are located in a first plane, and the edges of the opening are located in a second plane which is inclined upwardly relative to the first plane. The agitator assembly includes agitating members which extend outwardly from the opening beyond the second plane but within the first plane.