Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in filters for use in smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos. The improvements, particularly but not exclusively, relate to filter capabilities and to the manufacture of such filters. In one example, a filter for a smoking article comprises randomly oriented discrete short length fibres of absorbent having adsorbent particles dispersed therein. The invention also provides a filter for a smoking article comprising various other filter arrangements including absorbent and/or adsorbent materials.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing ubiquitous and configurable communications between users is provided. Ubiquity and other features are provided using a common identifier linking two or more users. In one embodiment, a common identifier is automatically provided when call forwarding is directed to a designated phone number. In another embodiment, a user can cause a common identifier to be created linking the user with a user of their choice by sending an SMS text message to a designated address. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in filters for use in smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos. The improvements, particularly but not exclusively, relate to filter capabilities and to the manufacture of such filters. In one example, a filter for a smoking article comprises a first fibrous filter material having an average fibre denier in the range 7 to 9 and a second fibrous filter material having an average fibre denier of below 7. The application also describes a filter for a smoking article comprising various other filter arrangements including absorbent and/or adsorbent materials.

Abstract: A smoking article filter (20) comprises a recess (25) to receive a filter insert unit (30). The filter insert unit (30) is secured to the filter (20) once inserted. The filter (20) and the filter insert unit (30) may comprise additives such as flavourants, colourants or sorbents.

Abstract: A propeller for a marine propulsion system is disclosed which comprises a propeller hub having a casing formed from three segments (16a, 16b, 16c), each of which has a part of an opening (28) for mounting a propeller blade (34). A locking and unlocking mechanism (51, 54, 95, 100) is provided for disengaging the propeller blades to enable pitch adjustment of the blades. A push rod (50) is connected to the mechanism (100) to cause disengagement and adjustment of the pitch of the blades. The mechanism (100) includes a claw (101) having pivotally connected fingers (95). The hub also has a slide ring (51) having a load surface (61) is provided for receiving load when the propeller blades are unlocked to enable pitch adjustment to take place.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing ubiquitous and configurable communications between users is provided. Ubiquity and other features are provided using a common identifier linking two or more users. In one embodiment, a common identifier is automatically provided when call forwarding is directed to a designated phone number. In another embodiment, a user can cause a common identifier to be created linking the user with a user of their choice by sending an SMS text message to a designated address. This Abstract is provided for the sole purpose of complying with the Abstract requirement rules that allow a reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure contained herein. This Abstract is submitted with the explicit understanding that it will not be used to interpret or to limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A cutting element (1) rotatably mountable in a cigarette manufacturing machine, or filter combining machine for cutting filter rods is disclosed. The cutting element comprises a circular blade (2) having apertures (4) therein configured so as to reduce the contact area between the blade and the ends of a filter rod during cutting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analog transmitter using an external cavity laser (ECL) in which specific characteristics of the ECL are enhanced and exploited to improve 2nd and 3rd order distortion while increasing the threshold for the occurrence of deleterious stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The performance of the ECL shows a substantial reduction in distortion occurring over certain narrow ranges of operating temperatures. Optical, electronic, thermal and/or mechanical methods are described that cause this “distortion dip” to be moved to, or created at, stable regions of ECL operation, away from mode hops. Methods are also described that allow the distortion dip to be moved to, or created at, ECL operating regions in which sufficiently high chirp occurs, thereby reducing SBS. Transmitters and other devices employing these and related techniques are also described.

Abstract: A potentiometer is disclosed which comprises an opaque screen element (10) and light emitters and collectors (92) for transmitting light through the screen and detecting the light transmitted through the screen. The screen has three sections (A, V and B). The sections (A, V and B) have bars which are parallel to one another and extend transverse to the direction of movement of the screen (10). The section (A) has bars which are arranged in groups comprising the same number of bars, but each of a different thickness. The section (V) has two parts (35, 36), the first part has bars which are formed in the same manner as the section (A) except they are a mirror image to the bars in section (A) and each group comprises less bars than are in the groups in section (A). The second part of section (V) has individual bars which increase in thickness. Section (B) is a mirror image of section (A).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the analog external cavity lasers (ECLs) including designs, materials, methods of manufacturing and methods of use for such ECLs and packages for such ECLs. Numerous criteria are presented that lead to improved cost/performance for ECLs and for systems incorporating such ECLs.

Abstract: A propeller for a marine propulsion system is disclosed which comprises a propeller hub having a casing formed from three segments (16a, 16b, 16c), each of which has a part of an opening (28) for mounting a propeller blade (34). A locking and unlocking mechanism (51, 54, 95, 100) is provided for disengaging the propeller blades to enable pitch adjustment of the blades. A push rod (50) is connected to the mechanism (100) to cause disengagement and adjustment of the pitch of the blades. The mechanism (100) includes a claw (101) having pivotally connected fingers (95). The hub also has a slide ring (51) having a load surface (61) is provided for receiving load when the propeller blades are unlocked to enable pitch adjustment to take place.

Abstract: A method and system for recording, cataloging, and analyzing infant speech in order to enhance speech development by producing lists of suggested future words. The invention utilizes voice recognition software to update a database table comprising words that the infant has spoken. Speech analysis software then compares the previously spoken words in the database table to a set of rules, which are used to analyze consonant/vowel patterns and thereby identify trends in word usage. After identifying trends in an infant's word usage, the speech analysis software may then generate reports comprising trends in an infant's word usage and also generate lists of suggested future words for the infant to learn. The computer system then outputs the reports to a display screen, electronic data file, network connection device, or printout.

Abstract: A wireless intelligent personal server includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver, a memory for storing electronic files, a set of embedded machine language instructions, a central processing unit (CPU), a first interface for a display device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a second interface for a wireless telephone. The RF receiver receives downstream data transmitted over a downstream wireless communications channel. The CPU executes the machine language instructions to process the downstream data and, thereby, either update an existing target electronic file stored in the memory, so that the target electronic file reflects changes made to a source electronic file, or create a new electronic file in the memory. A display device may be brought into communication with the wireless intelligent personal server, via the first interface, to access the electronic files stored in the memory.

Abstract: Included in the invention are systems and methods of full time recording network traffic to a hierarchical data storage. Also included in the invention are systems and methods of retrieval of recorded network traffic from a hierarchically organized network data repository. Additionally included in the invention are systems and methods of efficiently filtering data in a hierarchically organized network data repository. Systems and method of displaying recorded network data utilizing the retrieval systems are also included in the invention. Further included in the invention are systems and methods of providing sliding time window selection user interfaces. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A wireless intelligent personal server includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver, a memory for storing electronic files, a set of embedded machine language instructions, a central processing unit (CPU), a first interface for a display device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a second interface for a wireless telephone. The RF receiver receives downstream data transmitted over a downstream wireless communications channel. The CPU executes the machine language instructions to process the downstream data and, thereby, either update an existing target electronic file stored in the memory, so that the target electronic file reflects changes made to a source electronic file, or create a new electronic file in the memory. A display device may be brought into communication with the wireless intelligent personal server, via the first interface, to access the electronic files stored in the memory.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the suppression of nonlinear fiber effects leading to optical noise, particularly Stimulated Brillouin Scattering (SBS), when narrow linewidth light sources are used in optical communication systems, particularly external cavity laser light sources. Various intra-cavity and extra-cavity modulation techniques are described that broaden the output of the laser light source so as to distribute the laser energy among multiple spectral lines and not exceed the SBS threshold. Thermal, mechanical and electrical modulation techniques are described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the analog external cavity lasers (ECLs) including designs, materials, methods of manufacturing and methods of use for such ECLs and packages for such ECLS. Numerous criteria are presented that lead to improved cost/performance for ECLs and for systems incorporating such ECLs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an analog transmitter using an external cavity laser (ECL) in which specific characteristics of the ECL are enhanced and exploited to improve 2nd and 3rd order distortion while increasing the threshold for the occurrence of deleterious stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The performance of the ECL shows a substantial reduction in distortion occurring over certain narrow ranges of operating temperatures. Optical, electronic, thermal and/or mechanical methods are described that cause this “distortion dip” to be moved to, or created at, stable regions of ECL operation, away from mode hops. Methods are also described that allow the distortion dip to be moved to, or created at, ECL operating regions in which sufficiently high chirp occurs, thereby reducing SBS. Transmitters and other devices employing these and related techniques are also described.

Abstract: A cable housing device (10) comprises a housing (1) which comprises outer and inner sub-housings (11 and 12). The inner sub-housing (12) provides a hub upon which an electric cable (500) can be releasably wound in a uniplanar manner. A combined handle and electrical socket piece (300) pivotally mounted in a central, semi-circular hole through the sub-housing (12) is turnable from the plane of the housing (1) to a plane perpendicular thereto to reveal two socket holes (321 and 322) to receive a two-pin plug and to enable the piece (300) to be rotated to rotate the sub-housing (12) in the sub-housing (11) in order to wind-on the cable (500).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a connection monitor to concurrently interact with a concurrent diagnostic-capable modem during an open connection controlled by a communication application without terminating the open connection between a host system and the modem. The connection monitor and a communication application operate concurrently to enable a user to interrogate a modem for status information while a connection with the modem remains open and functional with other communication applications. A serial device driver presents two types of entry to the operating system, one for normal communications and one for a collateral or side-door entrance from a connection monitor. The serial device driver multiplexes a packaged diagnostic command into the open channel with the data process by the serial driver and dispatched to a local modem.