Abstract: The invention relates to a method of and apparatus for displaying a holographically generated video image having plural video frames. For each frame there is provided and computed (20) a respective sequential plurality of holograms. Each said sequential plurality of holograms of the plural video frames are sequentially displayed on a diffractive element (12) for viewing the replay field thereof, and the noise variance of each frame is perceived as attenuated by averaging across said plurality of holograms.

Abstract: Access to a device is controlled in a data processing network by receiving a first request from a client to connect to a device where the device is limited to a fixed number of client connections and connecting the client to an available client connection of the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would not be exceeded by connecting the client. Access is further controlled by testing liveness of a current client connection on the device if the fixed number of client connections on the device would be exceeded by connecting the client and dropping the current client connection if the liveness testing indicates that the current client connection is not live.

Abstract: Apparatuses, methods, and computer-storage media provide character string templates to facilitate receiving non-prose handwriting input from a user and converting that input to text to create character strings capable of being provided to application and/or displayed to the user. Templates may be provided manually or automatically, and may or may not be associated with an application text box. A template generally contains pre-populated segments and open segments for receiving handwriting.

Abstract: We describe a touch sensitive holographic image display device for holographically projecting a touch sensitive image at an acute angle onto a surface on which the device is placed. The device includes holographic image projection optics comprising at least one coherent light source illuminating a spatial light modulator (SLM), output optics to project a hologram onto an acute angle surface, and a remote touch sensing system to remotely detect a touch of a location within or adjacent to the holographically displayed image. A control system is configured to provide data defining an image for display, to receive detected touch data, and to control the device responsive to remote detection of a touch of a the displayed image.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a destination (17, 23, 24) in a data processing network where the destination is limited to a fixed number of requesters responds to a new request (50) for access from a given requestor (20) by determining whether the fixed number would be exceeded. If the fixed number would not be exceeded (51), the new request is granted by connecting (52) the given requester to the destination. If the fixed number would be exceeded, the liveness of the or each current connection to a respective requester is tested (55). If the liveness test succeeds, the new request is rejected but if the liveness test fails, the new request is granted (52).

Abstract: The invention relates to holographic head-up displays, to holographic optical sights, and also to 3D holographic image displays. We describe a holographic head-up display and a holographic optical sight, for displaying, in an eye box of the display/sight, a virtual image comprising one or more substantially two-dimensional images, the head-up display comprising: a laser light source; a spatial light modulator (SLM) to display a hologram of the two-dimensional images; illumination optics in an optical path between said laser light source and said SLM to illuminate said SLM; and imaging optics to image a plane of said SLM comprising said hologram into an SLM image plane in said eye box such that the lens of the eye of an observer of said head-up display performs a space-frequency transform of said hologram on said SLM to generate an image within said observer's eye corresponding to the two-dimensional images.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods, apparatus, and computer program code for the holographic display of images. We describe a method of displaying an image holographically. The method includes displaying a hologram on pixels of a spatial light modulator (SLM) and illuminating the SLM such that the image is displayed in pixels of a replay field (RPF) of the hologram. The method further includes subdividing the replay field into a plurality of spatially interlaced regions, and displaying holograms for each of the interlaced regions of the replay field sequentially at different times such that in an observer's eye the interlaced regions integrate to give the impression of the image and such that interference between adjacent pixels of the replay field is reduced.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for making a band-driven package or a band-drive component for a package, and machines for performing the methods. One method comprises feeding first and second flexible webs in a feed direction, one web being fed each side of a substrate such that the webs are in mutual face-to-face disposition ahead of and behind the substrate with respect to the feed direction; joining the face-to-face webs at a first join ahead of the substrate and at a second join behind the substrate, the joins bounding web portions that together encircle the substrate between the joins; and dividing the joined web portions from the remainder of the webs such that the joined web portions together define a band that encircles the substrate, to be slid around the substrate in use of the package.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for making a band-driven package or a band-drive component for a package, and machines for performing the methods. One method comprises feeding first and second flexible webs in a feed direction, one web being fed each side of a substrate such that the webs are in mutual face-to-face disposition ahead of and behind the substrate with respect to the feed direction; joining the face-to-face webs at a first join ahead of the substrate and at a second join behind the substrate, the joins bounding web portions that together encircle the substrate between the joins; and dividing the joined web portions from the remainder of the webs such that the joined web portions together define a band that encircles the substrate, to be slid around the substrate in use of the package.

Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for speckle reduction in holographic optical systems, in particular holographic image display systems. We describe a holographic image display system for displaying an image holographically on a display surface, the system including: a spatial light modulator (SLM) to display a hologram; a light source to illuminate said displayed hologram; projection optics to project light from said illuminated displayed hologram onto said display surface to form a holographically generated two-dimensional image, said projection optics being configured to form, at an intermediate image surface, an intermediate two-dimensional image corresponding to said holographically generated image; a diffuser located at said intermediate image surface; and an actuator mechanically coupled to said diffuser to, in operation, move said diffuser to randomise phases over pixels of said intermediate image to reduce speckle in an image displayed by the system.

Abstract: We describe a method of displaying an image holographically using a spatial light modulator (SLM), the SLM having a plurality of pixels, the method including: displaying a diffraction pattern on the pixels of the SLM; and illuminating the pixels such that light diffracted by said diffraction pattern on the SLM pixels includes a content of said displayed image. A variation in brightness of said displayed image across the displayed image is modulated by an intensity envelope determined by the diffraction pattern of an individual said pixel, for example a sinc envelope. The method further includes moving a peak or centre of gravity of the intensity envelope away from a zero order spot and towards a centre of the displayed image by imposing a pattern of phase delay across the SLM pixels, the pattern of phase delay repeating at a spatial interval corresponding to a pixel interval of the SLM.

Abstract: An array of resilient floor tiles is assembled into a continuous sheet after being laid down. An array of included, sacrificial resistive wires is buried along the edges of the tiles and is controllably heated in order to cause welding of the edges of tiles across the paths of the wires to neighbouring tiles. Subsequently the wires may be used to give the array integral tensile strength. The welded array is provided with greater strength for resisting use, expansive and contractile forces caused by environmental heat and cold and also long-term tile contraction owing to loss of plasticiser as may be seen with PVC-based tiles.

Abstract: We describe a holographic image projection system for projecting an image at an acute angle onto a surface, the system including: a spatial light modulator (SLM) to display a hologram; an illumination system to illuminate said displayed hologram; projection optics to project light from said illuminated displayed hologram onto said surface at an acute angle form said image; and a processor having an input to receive input image data for display and an output to provide hologram data for said SLM, wherein said processor is configured to: input image data and convert this to target image data; generate from said target image data hologram data for display as a hologram on the SLM to reproduce a target image; and wherein said target image is distorted to compensate for said projection of said hologram at an acute angle to form said image.

Abstract: A process to physically deter fouling from a substrate in an aquatic fouling environment, which process comprises forming on the substrate, before exposure to the said environment, a coating composition comprising (i) a curable polyorganosiloxane polyoxyalkylene block copolymer having at least two reactive groups X situated on the copolymer chain and (ii) an organosilicon crosslinking agent and/or a catalyst.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for the holographic display of images. We describe a method of compensating for spatial phase non-uniformities in a holographic image display system, the system including a substantially coherent light source illuminating an SLM (24), the method comprising sequentially displaying substantially the same hologram (40) at a plurality of different positions (40a, 40b) on said SLM (24) such that the displayed holographic images successively replayed by said differently positioned holograms (40a, 40b) average to provide a holographic displayed image with increased uniformity.

Abstract: A method and system of controlling access to a destination (17, 23, 24) in a data processing network where the destination is limited to a fixed number of requesters responds to a new request (50) for access from a given requestor (20) by determining whether the fixed number would be exceeded. If the fixed number would not be exceeded (51), the new request is granted by connecting (52) the given requester to the destination. If the fixed number would be exceeded, the liveness of the or each current connection to a respective requester is tested (55). If the liveness test succeeds, the new request is rejected but if the liveness test fails, the new request is granted (52).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hologram viewing arrangement, to an alignment device, to a display device, to a device for aligning first and second members and to a device for aligning an optical beam with a desired target. A hologram viewing arrangement comprising a pixellated phase mask substrate (20) and a pixellated hologram display substrate (40), wherein the hologram display substrate is arranged to store data representing at least two distinct images (3a-3d), the arrangement being such that disposing the phase mask in a first position with respect to the display substrate enables one of the at least two images to be visible and disposing the phase mask in a second position with respect to the display substrate enables another of the at least two images to be visible.

Abstract: We describe a method of projecting a colour image on a screen holographically. The method includes: inputting colour image data including data for at least two colour planes of said image, a first, longer wavelength colour plane and a second, shorter wavelength colour plane; generating data for respective first and second holograms from said first and second colour planes, said first hologram having a greater resolution than said second hologram; and displaying said first and second holograms in turn on a common spatial light modulator (SLM) illuminated by light of respective said first and second wavelengths to project said colour image onto said screen; and wherein a scaling in resolution between said first and second holograms is dependent on scaling between said first and second wavelengths such that, when projected on said screen pixels of said image generated by said first and second holograms have substantially the same pitch.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for making a band-driven package or a band-drive component for a package, and machines for performing the methods. One method comprises feeding first and second flexible webs in a feed direction, one web being fed each side of a substrate such that the webs are in mutual face-to-face disposition ahead of and behind the substrate with respect to the feed direction; joining the face-to-face webs at a first join ahead of the substrate and at a second join behind the substrate, the joins bounding web portions that together encircle the substrate between the joins; and dividing the joined web portions from the remainder of the webs such that the joined web portions together define a band that encircles the substrate, to be slid around the substrate in use of the package.

Abstract: For managing partitioning in a cluster of nodes, each node is assigned a prime number for use in determining which partition should be activated following partitioning of the cluster. The cluster is monitored for partitioning. If partitioning is detected, a partition value is calculated from the product of the prime numbers assigned to each node in each partition. A node is activated only if it is within the partition having the greatest partition value.