Abstract: Techniques for testing circuits, such as converter circuits, such as digital-to-analog converter circuits (DACs), are described. A digital signal processor (DSP) can generate a waveform, such as sine wave, and apply the sine wave to the circuit under test, e.g., a DAC. The DAC can generate an output and the DSP can regenerate the waveform and determine an accuracy of the DAC such as to determine whether the DAC meets one or more specified criteria. In some example implementations, the tests can be performed using variable voltage amplitude segments.

Abstract: A MEMS incorporating a sensing element and a JFET electrically connected to the sensing element is fabricated by the steps of: forming a first layer of electrically insulating barrier material on a surface of a substrate; patterning the first layer so as to expose a first region of the substrate; doping by ion implantation the first region of the substrate to form a well region of the JFET; forming a second layer of barrier material on the surface of both the first layer and the first region of the substrate; patterning the barrier material so as to expose a part of the first region of the substrate; doping by ion implantation the exposed part of the first region of the substrate to form source and drain contact areas of the JFET; patterning the barrier material so as to expose a second region of the substrate; and doping by ion implantation the second region of the substrate to form gate and substrate contact areas of the JFET in a single implantion step.

Abstract: A method of optimising a digital test signal for testing an analogue or mixed-signal circuit comprising determining a measure, for example a figure of merit, that is indicative of differences between the output of a fault free and the output of a known faulty circuit in response to an applied digital input signal. The digital input signal is then varied and another figure of merit is calculated for the fault free and the known faulty circuit for the new input signal. This is repeated a number of times, the digital input signal being varied each time. An optimum test signal is selected based on the determined figures of merit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a golf simulator comprising a launch area facing a screen at which the ball is driven and used to display part of a golf course. Sensors detect the impact of a ball on the screen, and/or flight towards it, and/or club head trajectory. The launch area is a playing surface panel tiltable by a displacement device, to provide a desired slope angle &agr; and slope direction &bgr; relative to a driving direction. A computer is connected to the sensors and displacement device, and programmed to control display of the course, based on its topography, and position of the launch area, and compute an estimated ball trajectory, ball lie based on the estimated trajectory and landing zone topography. The computer then controls the screen display and displacement device so that the next drive can be played from a realistic lie.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tiltable tee apparatus suitable for use in practising golf driving. The apparatus comprises a ground support, and a tee platform rotatably mounted on the ground support. The tee platform comprises a base portion and a playing surface panel hingedly connected at a first edge portion to a corresponding edge portion of the base portion. The playing surface panel is supported at a jack support portion remote from the first edge portion on an upper end of at least one screw jack pivotally connected thereto. At least one screw jack has its lower end pivotally connected to the base portion. One of the ground support and the tee platform base portion has a fixed spur gear secured thereto in a substantially horizontal plane on the rotational axis of the rotatable tee platform, and the other has mounted thereon a drive motor with an elongate toothed drive output transmission member for driving engagement with the spur gear so as to rotate the tee platform in use of the apparatus.

Abstract: A seismic acquisition system divides a survey terrain into a number of cells (14) each containing a cell access node (16) and a number of geophone units (10). The geophone units (10) transmit data in digital form to the respective cell access node (16) by wireless telemetry, and the cell access nodes (16) forward the data to a central control (12) by broadband channels.