Abstract: A capacitor comprises a body of dielectric material in which an anode and a cathode are arranged in a stack. A capacitance-forming layer of the dielectric material is arranged between the anode and the cathode. The capacitor further comprises an electro-mechanical connection, which comprises a hole which extends into the body in the direction of the stack. The hole includes an electrical connector. The electrical connector is in electrical contact with either the anode or the cathode, comprises a compliant element, and is suitable for holding a contact pin. The compliant element is configured to decouple the body from mechanical forces applied to the contact pin. The compliant element reduces mechanical stresses experienced by the body of the capacitor. Also provided is a capacitor assembly comprising two or more such capacitors; a kit for assembling such capacitors, and the use of an electrical termination to protect a capacitor from stress.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for characterizing an electronic design with efficient cell cloning. A cell instance corresponding to multiple similar cell instances in a view of an electronic design may be identified, where the cell instance is instantiated from a master parameterized cell. An analysis engine may be configured at least by associating a parameter of the master parameterized cell with multiple different parameter values respectively corresponding to the multiple similar cell instances. An analysis result including respective metric values corresponding to the multiple similar cell instances may be generated at least by performing an analysis that sweeps across the multiple different parameter values.

Abstract: A capacitor comprises a body of dielectric material in which an anode and a cathode are arranged in a stack. A capacitance-forming layer of the dielectric material is arranged between the anode and the cathode. The capacitor further comprises an electro-mechanical connection, which comprises a hole which extends into the body in the direction of the stack. The hole includes an electrical connector. The electrical connector is in electrical contact with either the anode or the cathode, comprises a compliant element, and is suitable for holding a contact pin. The compliant element is configured to decouple the body from mechanical forces applied to the contact pin. The compliant element reduces mechanical stresses experienced by the body of the capacitor. Also provided is a capacitor assembly comprising two or more such capacitors; a kit for assembling such capacitors, and the use of an electrical termination to protect a capacitor from stress.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for placement within a furnace filter bay having a flow of air therethrough. The filter bay is for receiving a furnace filter. The adapter includes a filter abutment face for abutment with at least a portion of the furnace filter, a mounting face parallel to the flow of air and attachment means permitting removable attachment of the adapter to the furnace filter bay. The adapter allows filters of smaller depth than the filters originally designed for use within the filter bay to be used, thereby eliminating the need for purchasing the original filters. A brace is also provided for the same purpose. A kit is described that includes the adapter and/or brace, along with instructions for installation thereof within the filter bay.

Abstract: An apparatus for commissioning and balancing a central heating system of the type having a boiler (7) for heating water and a pump (1) for pumping the water through a plurality of radiators (21) interconnected by pipes (22). The apparatus comprises a plurality of pairs of temperature probes (9, 10) with a first probe (19) of each pair mountable on a flow pipe (24) and a second probe (10) of each pair mountable on the return pipe (25) of a plurality of radiators (21). A control unit is provided for receiving and outputting temperature information from the temperature probes (9, 10). Means (31) is provided for transmitting the temperature information recorded by each probe (9, 10) to the control unit to allow an operator to monitor the temperature drop across each pair of temperature probes (9, 10).

Abstract: A thermal store system for a water heating system comprising a primary thermal store containing a primary volume of water adapted to be heated by a primary heating means, said primary thermal store being in thermal communication with a central heating supply flow and a central heating return flow, a secondary water heat exchanger in thermal communication with the primary volume of water, the secondary water heat exchanger having a water feed flow and a water outlet flow for supplying hot water, at least one of said central heating return flow and/or said water feed flow being in thermal communication with at least one further thermal store, upstream of said primary thermal store, said at least one further thermal store containing a medium adapted to be heated by at least one supplementary heating means.

Abstract: A heating system comprising at least one temperature sensing device in the form of a wireless transponder. Preferably the temperature sensing device comprises an RFID transponder which may take the form of a substantially planar patch. Preferably said at least one temperature sensing device is arranged for communication with at least one communications relay node via a wireless link. In use, the or each temperature sensing device may send to the or each relay node information indicating the temperature measured by the sensor and, preferably, an identifier that uniquely identifies the respective temperature sensor.

Abstract: An adapter is provided for placement within a furnace filter bay having a flow of air therethrough. The filter bay is for receiving a furnace filter. The adapter includes a filter abutment face for abutment with at least a portion of the furnace filter, a mounting face parallel to the flow of air and attachment means permitting removable attachment of the adapter to the furnace filter bay. The adapter allows filters of smaller depth than the filters originally designed for use within the filter bay to be used, thereby eliminating the need for purchasing the original filters. A brace is also provided for the same purpose. A kit is described that includes the adapter and/or brace, along with instructions for installation thereof within the filter bay.

Abstract: Wind Chimes are provided, the notes of which are tuned to play a person's given name, according to the Ogham notation. The “tune” of the person's name is played on, e.g., anodized aluminum tubes, which are tuned to specific notes, based on the ancient system. The name being “played” is written on one side of the frame in English, and on the other side using the Ogham characters that translate as both the English letters, and the musical notes. The shape of the chime's frame is patterned after a Harp. The instrument can be used traditionally, as a wind chime, or it can be fitted with a base, allowing it to be used indoors as a décor item.

Abstract: Wind Chimes are provided, the notes of which are tuned to play a person's given name, according to the Ogham notation. The “tune” of the person's name is played on, e.g., anodized aluminum tubes, which are tuned to specific notes, based on the ancient system. The name being “played” is written on one side of the frame in English, and on the other side using the Ogham characters that translate as both the English letters, and the musical notes. The shape of the chime's frame is patterned after a Harp. The instrument can be used traditionally, as a wind chime, or it can be fitted with a base, allowing it to be used indoors as a décor item.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) operates repetitively to perform a series of conversion cycles. A comparator (9) receives an analog input signal (V.sub.IN) and compares it with an analog comparison signal produced by a digital-to-analog converter (5). A successive-approximation register circuit (22) holds a digital trial signal value and uses it to control the value of the analog comparison signal in each conversion cycle so as to perform up to two comparisons per cycle, thereby to produce digital data that has a first value ("+1") when the input signal value is greater than a first comparison value (V.sub.C1) and that has a second value ("-1") when the input signal value is less than a second comparison value (V.sub.C2) and that in all other cases has a third value ("0"). The first comparison value (V.sub.C1) is set higher than the trial signal value determined for use in the cycle concerned, and the second comparison value is set lower than that trial signal value.

Abstract: A print media alignment apparatus is disclosed. An embodiment includes a first member configured to apply a varying force to at least one print media sheet of a print media stack. This force varies from a minimum below a first print media stack height to a maximum at a second print media stack height. The alignment apparatus also includes a second member configured to apply a constant force to the print media stack irrespective of the stack height. Another embodiment includes a print media width adjuster configured to be moveable adjacent a print media stack having at least one sheet of print media, the print media stack defining a plane. The alignment apparatus also includes a wall on the width adjuster. The wall includes a wall first print media contact surface configured to slope at an angle with respect to the plane. The alignment apparatus further includes a member attached to the width adjuster, the member including a member print media contact surface configured to be perpendicular to the plane.

Abstract: An orthodontic instrument for tightening a loop in a dental ligature about an anchor affixed to a tooth, to tie an archwire to the anchor, comprises a shaft having at one end a nose for bracing the tool against the wires and bracket; a movable ligature carriage on the shaft; and means on the carriage to hold a dental ligature to the carriage with a loop in the ligature projecting around and beyond the nose of the shaft. The ligature carriage is movable along the shaft to draw the ligature loop towards the abutment at the nose of the shaft and tighten the loop before twisting the ligature 180.degree., to seat the archwire in the anchor on the tooth, and then spinning the shaft to twist the wires.