Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a position detector for detecting the position of a helicopter blade comprising a sensor arranged to generate a signal in dependence on the position of a helicopter blade with respect to the sensor and a data processing module arranged to receive the signal from the sensor and generate an output indicative of the blade position from the received signal, the sensor comprising; a mask (M1) having a plurality of slits (S1-Sm) formed therein; a lens assembly (RXL) having a field of view and being arranged to direct incident light onto a focal plane of the lens assembly; and a light detector arranged to detect the level of illumination passing through each of the plurality of slits in the mask and provide a signal indicative of the illumination level to the data processing module, wherein the mask is located at the focal plane of the lens assembly and wherein the slits formed in the mask are angularly divergent from one another.

Abstract: A method of detecting the velocity of a moving object comprising the steps of: passing a beam of coherent light through an optical mask having a pattern of alternating opaque and non-opaque regions formed thereon, whereby an image of alternating light and dark fringes is projected along the length of the light beam; causing the moving object to pass through the projected image such that a portion of the light beam is reflected from the moving object as a series of pulses; detecting the reflected light pulses and the frequency of the pulses; and calculating the velocity of the object as a function of the pulse frequency and the known separation of the fringes of the image.

Abstract: Apparatus for determining the velocity and direction of a moving object, the apparatus comprising: a coherent light (L) source arranged to generate an incident beam (B) of coherent light; an optical imaging system arranged to receive light reflected from a moving object passing through the incident beam and to focus the reflected light into a magnified image of the moving image; a first optical mask (M) through which the magnified image is projected, the mask having a first region of alternating opaque and non-opaque areas having a first spacing and second region of alternating opaque and non-opaque areas having a second spacing different from the first spacing; a first light detector (D) arranged to receive the light signal transmitted through the optical mask, the light signal comprising a series of pulses, and to calculate the velocity and direction of the moving object as a function of the pulse frequency and the spacing of the opaque areas of the optical mask.

Abstract: A method to implement policy-based network traffic management includes receiving data pertaining to a network device at a network traffic manager, the first data being received out-of-band of network traffic. Second data is extracted from the network traffic. A network traffic management policy is implemented at the network traffic manager utilizing the first and second data.

Abstract: A method to pre-compile configuration information for a network connection device includes receiving a rule file defining behavioral requirements for the network connection device. An operations file, describing operations supported by a plurality of components of the network connection device, is received. A rule program, executable by the network connection device, is generated utilizing the rule file and the operations file. The rule program comprises a set of operations, selected from operations supported by the plurality of components of the network connection device, for performance by the respective components of the network connection device in accordance with the behavioral requirements defined by the rule file.

Abstract: An imaging member is prepared by applying to a support a heat-sensitive imaging layer which comprises at least one heat-sensitive polymer capable of undergoing transformation from a hydrophilic to hydrophobic state or hydrophobic to hydrophilic state, wherein the transformation occurs such that the activation energy Ea and the Arrhenius pre-exponential factor A associated with the transformation simultaneously fulfill the relationships: ln (A).gtoreq.0.4 Ea+8.84 and ln (A).ltoreq.1.69 Ea-14.37. The imaging member is useful in processless thermal lithographic printing.

Abstract: A heat transfer ring that is readily usable in any application requiring heat transfer from a heat source to a medium coming in contact with the ring. The ring may also be used in a reverse application where it is used to cool the medium coming into contact with it. The ring is a cast body consisting of a plurality of integrally connected circular rings to which a series of tapered prongs are attached so as to provide a large heat sink. The prongs are of a tapered conical shape and are specifically positioned with respect to each other thereby spanning a larger dimension of the medium being treated so as to effectively and efficiently transfer heat thereto or therefrom.

Abstract: An advanced network processor or concentrator which uses distributed processing to interface a plurality of subscriber data input lines to a packet network. The concentrator includes removable line terminators boards (ULT) which can be configured to handle a variety of signal characteristics. Each ULT interfaces to a line director unit (LDU). The line director units process and packetize the data. All the LDU's are interfaced to each other over a high speed data bus which is also accessible by a nodal director unit (NDU). Each LDU is programmed by the NDU to recognize and process the data at each subscriber line and instructed by the NDU to down load it's processed data to a selected trunk line director unit (TLDU). The TLDU transmits the data over a trunk line to a packet switching network. The system is modular, expandable and reprogrammable to handle differently typed subscriber inputs as necessary.