Abstract: An optical switch uses a polarisation insensitive spatial light modulator operating by a double pass through a liquid crystal cell. The switch includes two such modulators in a cross bar arrangement. Different embodiments employing techniques for reducing cross talk are described.

Abstract: A networked computer system provides various services for assisting users in locating, and sharing information with, other users. The system provides a user interface through which users can establish contact relationships with other users. The system also provides functionality for users to identify contacts of their respective contacts. For example, in one embodiment, each respective user can conduct a search of contacts of contacts of the respective user. The search may be limited in scope to users that satisfy one or more particular search criteria, such as users that reside in a particular region or are affiliated with a particular group.

Abstract: An optical switch uses two ferroelectric liquid crystal spatial light modulators (10, 11) with an interconnect region in between. The switch uses bulk lenses (2, 8) to focus light from an input fibre array (1) to a first spatial light modulator (10), and from the second spatial light modulator (11) to an output array (9). Each spatial light modulator displays a respective hologram selected from a previously calculated set, to cause a desired switching of light from the input fibre array to the output array.

Abstract: An optical switch uses a polarization insensitive spatial light modulator operating by a double pass through a liquid crystal cell. The switch includes two such modulators in a cross bar arrangement. Different embodiments employing techniques for reducing cross talk are described.

Abstract: An optical switch uses a polarisation insensitive spatial light modulator operation by a double pass through a liquid crystal cell. The switch includes two such modulators in a cross bar arrangement. Different embodiments employing techniques for reducing cross talk are described.

Abstract: A polyester gelcoat composition comprising unsaturated polyester resin; a reactive diluent mixture including para-tertiary-butylstyrene and a minor amount of styrene; and one or more additives. The gelcoat composition does not include appreciable deleterious amounts of hazardous air pollution solvents. A method of making the gelcoat composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A network-based contact management system provides various features for assisting users in locating, and sharing information with, other users. The system provides a web-based user interface through which each may user create a personal data record, establish contact relationships with other users, and specify permissions for allowing such other users to view the user's own personal data. Users can preferably view the personal data records of their respective contacts via personal address books in accordance with the permissions granted by such contacts. A search feature enables each user to search for contacts of that user's own contacts to locate other users of interest. A crossing paths notification feature notifies users when their travel plans coincide with those of their contacts.

Abstract: A gel coat for a surface of a composite article contains a curable urethane acrylate resin preferably based on aliphatic polyester polyols and aliphatic polyisocyanates. The gel coat provides a surface that has high gloss and color retention after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The gel coat composition contains resin and acrylic diluents, including optional difunctional and trifunctional diluents. The gel coat is optionally pigmented to produce an article that may be used without further surface treatment.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for replenishing subscriber accounts in an intelligent network-based e-commerce system 100 using credit/debit cards (FIG. 2) or scratch cards (FIG. 3). An end user sends a recharge request to a client application 108-120. The recharge includes information comprising the recharge amount, an identifier of the prepaid account, and indicia of one the credit card, debit card or scratch card for funding the recharge amount. The client application forwards the information to a gateway server 104 which, in turn, sends the information to a service control point (SCP) 122. In the embodiment using a credit/debit card, the SCP determines validity of the account and authorization to fund the recharge amount using the credit/debit card. In the embodiment using a scratch card, the SCP determines validity of the account and validity of the scratch card. Validity of the scratch card is determined by querying a recharge card management system (RCMS).

Abstract: An intelligent network-based e-commerce system 100 contains one or more service control points (SCPs) 122 for maintaining account information associated with a plurality of prepaid subscribers. The account information is accessible by service providers 108-120 or subscribers via a gateway server 104. The electronic commerce system supports transactions including subscriber authentication, balance request operations, debit request operations and credit request operations.

Abstract: An intelligent network-based e-commerce system 100 computes costs and bills customers for rated transactions based on service type and/or content. A gateway device such as a gateway server 104 or short message service center (SMSC) 404 receives costing/billing requests (or “rated debit requests”) and forwards the requests to one or more service control points (SCPs) 122. The SCPs maintain subscriber accounts for one or more subscribers and maintain a tariff table having cost/rate information associated with one or more services. Upon receiving the costing/billing request, an SCP consults the tariff table to determine the cost/rate information corresponding to the service type and/or content identified in the rated debit request and computes the cost of the service based on the rate information. In one embodiment, the SCP further determines an eligibility of the subscriber account to be billed for the service (i.e.

Abstract: A tool for soldering pin-in-hole electronic circuit components includes a tool plate with a set of via holes corresponding to the holes of a circuit board on which a circuit component is soldered. The board is aligned with the tool plate and hot gas is supplied through the set of plate vias to reflow solder in the board holes. The tool is particularly suitable for use in removing and replacing pinned circuit components. Use of particular gases (e.g., nitrogen) allows soldering to be carried out without the use of flux. Advantages of the tool are that it prevents burning the circuit board and/or unintentionally reflowing other circuit components mounted on the board (by directing hot gas only substantially onto the circuit board's solder-containing holes).

Abstract: This invention concerns peptides (I) having intracellular potassium channel modulating activity comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID No: 2:(N terminal function) (I) Met Ile Ser Ser Val Cys Val Ser Ser 1 5} Tyr Arg Gly Arg Lys Ser Gly Asn Lys 10 15 Pro Pro Ser Lys Thr Cys Leu Lys Glu Glu 20 25 (C terminal function)in which the cysteines are optionally linked via a disulphide bridge and wherein ______________________________________ Met represents L-methionine Ile represents L-isoleucine Ser represents L-serine Val represents L-valine Cys represents L-cysteine Tyr represents L-tyrosine Arg represents L-arginine Gly represents glycine Lys represents L-lysine Asn represents L-asparagine Pro represents L-proline Thr represents L-threonine Leu represents L-leucine Glu represents L-glutamic acid ______________________________________or a variant thereof,with the proviso that excluded is the 13-Lys variant (where 13-Arg is replaced by 13-Lys) in which the cysteines are not linked via a disulphide bridge

Abstract: An optical interconnection arrangement comprises a plurality of substantially parallel optical interconnection channels. In each channel, there are an optical source, an optical receiver, a first lens and a second lens. The first lens conveys light from the source to the second lens, and the second lens refocusses the light at the receiver. Each source and the associated first lens are offset one relative to the other by a predetermined distance in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the first lens. The corresponding receiver and the associated second lens are offset one relative to the other by the same distance but in the opposite direction to the offset between the source and first lens. Each offset is equal and opposite to the corresponding offset in an adjacent channel.

Abstract: A method for increasing the strength of a solder joint between a nickel-iron lead frame of an electronic circuit module and a copper pad of a printed circuit board on which the module is mounted includes baking the joint for at least one hour at a temperature in the range 373K to 456K. The baking step is found to significantly increase the strength of the joint.

Abstract: A tool for soldering pin-in-hole electronic circuit components includes a tool plate with a set of via holes corresponding to the holes of a circuit board on which a circuit component is soldered. The board is aligned with the tool plate and hot gas is supplied through the set of plate vias to reflow solder in the board holes. The tool is particularly suitable for use in removing and replacing pinned circuit components. Use of particular gases (e.g., nitrogen) allows soldering to be carried out without the use of flux. Advantages of the tool are that it prevents burning the circuit board and/or unintentionally reflowing other circuit components mounted on the board (by directing hot gas only substantially onto the circuit board's solder-containing holes).

Abstract: A tool for soldering pin-in-hole electronic circuit components includes a tool plate with a set of via holes corresponding to the holes of a circuit board on which a circuit component is soldered. The board is aligned with the tool plate and hot gas is supplied through the set of plate vias to reflow solder in the board holes. The tool is particularly suitable for use in removing and replacing pinned circuit components. Use of particular gases (e.g., nitrogen) allows soldering to be carried out without the use of flux. Advantages of the tool are that it prevents burning the circuit board and/or unintentionally reflowing other circuit components mounted on the board (by directing hot gas only substantially onto the circuit board's solder-containing holes).

Abstract: Solder is deposited on a printed circuit board by melting the solder in a container. The container has a slot for passage of solder, therethrough and control means actuable to alternately allow and prevent passage of solder through the slot. The slot is placed in contact with a stencil and the control means is actuated to allow passage of solder through the slot. The stencil is moved relative to the container in a direction transverse of the slot to deposit solder on the printed circuit board via the stencil.