Abstract: A flexible heat exchanger is suitable for heating or cooling living subjects or objects. The heat exchanger has a volume having at least one inlet for receiving a heat exchange fluid and at least one outlet. A flexible heat exchange plate that is essentially impermeable to the heat exchange fluid is penetrated by substantially rigid thermally-conductive members. The members provide paths of high thermal conductivity through the plate. The heat exchange fluid may be water.

Abstract: A bearing assembly and method of manufacturing a bearing assembly exposable to transmission fluid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a bearing housing (2) having: a base; an annular wall (11) upstanding from the base having an inner (6) and an outer surface; and a flange (10) extending from the base; providing a ball (3) at one end of a stem (4); forming a hemi-spherical cup in the base of the bearing housing encircled by the annular wall, the cup having an inner surface; seating the hall in the cup; and swaging the annular wall onto the ball.

Abstract: A clamp apparatus for selectively occluding a resilient tube to prevent free flow of fluid in the tube. The device comprises a base member to which the resilient IV tube is attached or through which it passes, and a slide clamp that slides relative to the base member and relative to the tube. The aperture in the slide clamp has a relatively open hole at one end, through which the tube passes when the slide clamp is an open position, allowing fluid to flow through the tube. The aperture also has a relatively constricted slot at the other end, through which the tube passes when the slide clamp is in the occluding position, preventing fluid flow through the tube. A deflectable cantilevered locking arm on the base interlocks with a detent on the slide clamp to lock the slide clamp at the occluding position to avoid inadvertent free flow. A release tab that is used to release the locking arm from the slide clamp is located off center to avoid inadvertent activation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of estimating the time offsets between signals transmitted by plural transmitters of a communications network and received by a receiver attached to a terminal. In the method a section of a representation of the signals from the plural transmitters received by the receiver at the terminal (a “terminal section”) is created as are a first section of a representation of the signal transmitted by a first of said transmitters and a second section of a representation of the signal transmitted by a second of said transmitters. Each of the first and second sections overlaps in time with the terminal section. Using the first section, the second section and a set of signal parameters, including initial estimates of the time offsets between the first section and the terminal section and between the second section and the terminal section, a model of a section of a representation of the composite signal received by the receiver from the first and second transmitters is created.

Abstract: Dielectric welding apparatus has opposed electrodes that can be engaged on either side of a product to be welded and a dielectric welding power supply that supplies welding potentials to the electrodes. The apparatus includes electrically insulating buffer material adjacent to at least one of the electrodes. A recess formed in a surface of the buffer material receives an end of an electrically-conductive member in the product. The buffer material prevents arcing between the electrodes and the electrically-conductive member.

Abstract: A Postal Authority regulated e-Mail messaging application is provided over a public network to a plurality of mailers and addressees using authenticated transaction records. The application transmits at least one e-Mail message through at least one e-Mail account configured for a specific class of service. The application creates transaction records relevant to the specific class of service based upon details of completed transactions. Electronic postmarks are obtained to authenticate transaction records. Authenticated transaction records are sent to the mailer. A unique identifier of an electronic postmark is embedded in the e-Mail message. The e-Mail message incorporating the unique identifier is sent to at least one addressee. Authenticated e-Mail messages and transaction records are created and protected from undetectable modification.

Abstract: A detection system and method having at least one detection unit, and a control centre unit. The detection unit includes at least one sensor configured to generate sensor data correlated to sensed conditions, a locator for actively determining location data corresponding to the location of the detection unit, and a communicator configured to communicate the sensor data and location data. The control centre includes a receiver for receiving the sensor data and the location data, together with a control processor which is configured to determine a threat level correlated to the sensor data.

Abstract: The present invention sets out to overcome the hearability problem in CDMA communications networks in which positioning services are provided, by using a separate sampling device (204, 205, 206) for each transmitter (201, 202, 203), which sends to the computing device (208) a representation of the signals transmitted only by that transmitter. A cross-correlation of the representation sent back by the mobile terminal (207) with the representation sent back by the sampling device in the brightest transmitter is performed in the computing device (208), and an estimate of that brightest signal is subtracted from the representation sent back by the mobile terminal (207) in order to reduce its effect on the remaining signals as far as possible. The cross-correlation and subtraction steps are iterated until no useful signals remain to be extracted.

Abstract: A bearing assembly and method of manufacturing a bearing assembly exposable to transmission fluid, the method comprising the steps of: providing a bearing housing (2) having: a base; an annular wall (11) upstanding from the base having an inner (6) and an outer surface; and a flange (10) extending from the base; providing a ball (3) at one end of a stem (4); forming a hemi-spherical cup in the base of the bearing housing encircled by the annular wall, the cup having an inner surface; seating the hall in the cup; and swaging the annular wall unto the ball.

Abstract: The present invention sets out to overcome the hearability problem in CDMA communications networks in which positioning services are provided, by using a separate sampling device (204, 205, 206) for each transmitter (201, 202, 203), which sends to the computing device (208) a representation of the signals transmitted only by that transmitter. A cross-correlation of the representation sent back by the mobile terminal (207) with the representation sent back by the sampling device in the brightest transmitter is performed in the computing device (208), and an estimate of that brightest signal is subtracted from the representation sent back by the mobile terminal (207) in order to reduce its effect on the remaining signals as far as possible. The cross-correlation and subtraction steps are iterated until no useful signals remain to be extracted.

Abstract: A location measurement unit (401) for a radio location measuring system has two or more coupling devices (404, 405) for picking up the signals from a plurality of base transceiver stations (BTSs) of a cellular radio communication system. A switching device (510), is connected to the coupling devices, for switching between the signals picked up by the coupling devices and/or ne/two or more receivers (510, 610-613) are connected to respective coupling devices, for receiving the signals picked up by the coupling devices. A processor (512, 614) is connected to the or each receiver, for processing the signals output by the receiver. A communications link (513, 615) is connected to the processor, for transferring the processed signals to a calculation node (514).

Abstract: A phlebotomy device comprises a barrel provided with a catheter and a needle passing through the catheter, means being provided for automatically retracting the needle from the catheter in response to the insertion of a blood collection vessel into the barrel.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is formed over a substrate, with an insulating planarization layer formed adjacent the optical waveguide and level with the top of the waveguide A microwave transmission line is formed over the planarization layer and overlies a top surface of the optical waveguide. In this circuit, isolation of a microwave transmission line is provided by forming the line over a planarization layer which fills the space adjacent to an optical waveguide structure. The transmission line can then contact electrically the top surface of the waveguide structure but is isolated from the substrate which supports the waveguide.

Abstract: A rope assembly comprises a central rope, which may be composed of nylon, a plurality of flotation elements of closed cell form and buffer elements of open cell form which are disposed between and flush with the flotation elements. A protective layer, which may be formed of polyurethane, surrounds the rope and the flotation and buffer elements. The closed cell form elements may be polyethylene. The open cell form elements may be polyurethane.

Abstract: An electronic module or package is disclosed for providing high reliability and high performance operation. The package comprises a hermetically sealed enclosure having a metallic baseplate and a ceramic cover, and containing one or more circuits or devices therein which typically are power rectifiers, bridges or power control circuitry. One or more power terminals are disposed on a terminal block compliantly supported on or above the baseplate, the terminals extending through the cover in hermetically sealed manner. Signal or control terminals may also be disposed on a terminal block compliantly supported on or above the baseplate, these terminals also extending through the cover in hermetically sealed manner. An adapter plate may be mounted on the cover and containing a plurality of terminals connected to the module terminals. The terminals of the adapter plate can be in any configuration to suit user requirements without requiring a change in the terminal configuration of the module itself.