Abstract: An audio amplifier circuit has a first cascode stage configured as a voltage gain stage and having an input for an audio signal, and an output. The circuit has a second cascode stage configured as a unity gain or near unity gain stage and having an input to receive an output from the first cascode stage, and a low impedance output to drive an output stage of an audio power amplifier. The first cascode stage has a first, input transistor having an input biased to a predetermined bias voltage, and a second, output transistor arranged to drive the second cascode stage. The first, input transistor of the first cascode stage may have a common-emitter configuration, and the second, output transistor may have a common-base configuration. The invention extends to an audio amplifier which includes a circuit of the invention.

Abstract: A regulated power supply circuit includes a voltage reference circuit arranged to generate a reference voltage and an output device responsive to a control signal to supply a load from a voltage source. A control circuit is arranged to compare an output voltage at the load with the reference voltage. The control circuit includes a comparator comprising a long-tailed transistor pair having a first input to which the reference voltage is applied, a second input to which the output voltage is applied, and an output connected to an input terminal of the output device. The control circuit applies a correction signal to the output device via a single semiconductor junction to regulate the output voltage, thereby minimising propagation delay in the control circuit. The circuit may include a primary voltage regulator arranged to supply the control circuit at a lower voltage than that of the voltage source.

Abstract: An audio amplifier circuit has a first cascode stage configured as a voltage gain stage and having an input for an audio signal, and an output. The circuit has a second cascode stage configured as a unity gain or near unity gain stage and having an input to receive an output from the first cascode stage, and a low impedance output to drive an output stage of an audio power amplifier. The first cascode stage has a first, input transistor having an input biased to a predetermined bias voltage, and a second, output transistor arranged to drive the second cascode stage. The first, input transistor of the first cascode stage may have a common-emitter configuration, and the second, output transistor may have a common-base configuration. The invention extends to an audio amplifier which includes a circuit of the invention.

Abstract: A ribbon loudspeaker module includes a ribbon element of electrically conductive material and having a resistance of less than 1? and a magnetic system arranged to create a magnetic field about the ribbon element. A buffer amplifier having an input is arranged to receive a loudspeaker drive signal from an audio power amplifier and an output arranged to drive the ribbon element directly. The ribbon loudspeaker module is preferably a low frequency module, designed to handle audio signals below 5 kHz, and preferably in the range 20 Hz to 3 kHz or a part thereof. The ribbon element may have a resistance of less than 0.5?, less than 0.2? and even as little as 0.15? or less.

Abstract: A method of production of a thin film electroluminescent device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a conductor on the substrate; providing a dielectric layer on the conductor; providing a phosphor layer on the dielectric layer so creating a phosphor/dielectric interface region, the phosphor/dielectric region interface comprising a plurality of electron interface states; and transiently laser annealing the phosphor layer so as to induce an in depth annealing effect to the phosphor layer without heating the phosphor/dielectric region above a temperature which includes a substantial modification in the distribution of electron interface states.

Abstract: A terminal for use by a list broker, a terminal for use by a list manager, and a terminal for use by a service bureau (list provider) of a supply chain in the list industry, each terminal including means for translating to and/or from native format an indication of a subset of a list expressed in XML. An intermediate node is also provided, for optional use as a router and validator of XML statements exchanged between the elements of the supply chain. Advantageously, the indication of a subset of a list expressed in XML is provided using terms (tagged field values serving as select filter parameters) from a with the tags according to a list of terms in an XML schema description, and the possible values, in some embodiments, according to a predetermined “lingo” or, in other words, a standardized vocabulary. Corresponding methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of production of a thin film electroluminescent device comprising the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a conductor on the substrate; providing a dielectric layer on the conductor; providing a phosphor layer on the dielectric layer so creating a phosphor/dielectric interface region the phosphor/dielectric region interface comprising a plurality of electron interface states; and translently laser anncaling the phosphor layer so as to induce an in depth annealing effect to the phosphor layer without heating the phosphor/dielectric region above a temperature which includes a substantial modification in the distribution of electron interface states.

Abstract: A method of phosphor thermographic temperature measurement comprising the steps of; illuminating (12) a thermographic phosphor coating (10) with a pulsed electromagnetic radiation to produce luminescence (16) of said phosphor coating (10); measuring and recording the intensity of said luminescence (16) over a period of time; and correlating the measured variation of the intensity of the said luminescence (16) over time to obtain a temperature measurement. The phosphor coating (10) being a relatively thin film phosphor coating. The thickness (t) of the thin film phosphor coating (10) being less than 10 &mgr;m, preferably between approximately 0.3 &mgr;m and 10 &mgr;m. The thin film phosphor coating (10) being annealed before being used for temperature measurement.

Abstract: A thin film electroluminescent device, comprising a first electrode layer, first and second dielectric layers with an active phosphor layer disposed therebetween, and a second electrode layer, wherein there is provided within the phosphor layer at least one barrier layer comprising a thin layer of dielectric material.An array of such devices placed side to side is provided with a print head suitable for A4 electrographic printing.