Abstract: A variable optical attenuator has a first movable waveguide support and a second waveguide support that include first and second waveguides, respectively, such that the first and second waveguides are aligned for propagating an optical energy. An electrically driven actuator positions the movable waveguide support for coupled, optical misalignment relative to the second support to achieve a desired optical attenuation value. The movable waveguide support may be in a cantilevered configuration in which a distal end extends over a surface having an electrode. In this example, applying a drive signal to the electrode deflects the movable support such that the signal coupled between the first waveguide to the second waveguide is attenuated. The drive signal may be set to achieve a desired value for an electrical parameter that varies with the position of the movable waveguide support.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for forming thin films of titanium dioxide in the rutile phase by reactive sputter deposition. In one aspect, a sputtering target and auxiliary plasma generator are positioned in a coating station in a sputtering chamber so that the titanium deposited on a substrate passing through the coating chamber is oxidized by exposure to the auxiliary plasma generated by the plasma generator commingled with the sputter plasma. The plasma may include monatomic oxygen to assist in the formation of rutile titanium dioxide. The target, or a pair of targets may also be operated from pulsed d.c. or a.c. power supplies.

Abstract: A method, computer program, or apparatus for determining with various degrees of precision the power delivered by an engine, typically, an aircraft engine. The disclosed invention uses a variety of parameters, such as the rotation rate, manifold pressure, outside air temperature, and fuel flow to determine or approximate the power delivered by the engine. The engine's altitude does not have to be involved in the calculations.

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator has a first waveguide and a second waveguide that are optically coupled together. At least one of the waveguides has a movable cantilever portion that is movable relative to the other to control attenuation of an optical signal traveling between the two. Preferably, electrically driven actuators deflect the movable waveguides to a relative position at which a desired optical attenuation value is achieved. Each movable waveguide may deflect in an opposite direction to the other waveguide. The electrically driven actuator receives a drive signal that controls the amount of deflection. The electrically driven actuator may be an electrostatic, electrothermic, or electromagnetic actuator. In the example of an electrostatic actuator, one electrode may be disposed on a movable waveguide and another adjacent the moveable waveguide to create the electrostatic force that moves the waveguide.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for taking an input signal, replicating it a number of times and modifying each of the replicas before routing them to respective output transducers such that a desired sound field is created. This sound field may comprise a directed beam, focussed beam or a simulated origin. In a first aspect, delays are added to sound channels to remove the effects of different travelling distances. In a second aspect, a delay is added to a video signal to account for the delays added to the sound channels. In a third aspect, different window functions are applied to each channel to give improved flexibility of use. In a fourth aspect, a smaller extent of transducers is used top output high frequencies than are used to output low frequencies. An array having a larger density of transducers near the centre is also provided. In a fifth aspect, a line of elongate transducers is provided to give good directivity in a plane.

Abstract: A combined refrigerator-oven (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The refrigerator-oven (20) further includes a heating unit (50) and a refrigeration unit (70). A controller (118) is in communication with the heating unit (50) and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28). When a heating mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the heating unit (50) to produce heat (66) in the enclosed chamber (28).

Abstract: A variable optical attenuator has a first movable waveguide support and a second waveguide support that include first and second waveguides, respectively, such that the first and second waveguides are aligned for propagating an optical energy. An electrically driven actuator positions the movable waveguide support for coupled, optical misalignment relative to the second support to achieve a desired optical attenuation value. The movable waveguide support may be in a cantilevered configuration in which a distal end extends over a surface having an electrode. In this example, applying a drive signal to the electrode deflects the movable support such that the signal coupled between the first waveguide to the second waveguide is attenuated. The drive signal may be set to achieve a desired value for an electrical parameter that varies with the position of the movable waveguide support.

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for use in cutting and/or coagulating tissue includes one or more electrode surfaces (15 and 16) at least partly coated with tungsten disulphide. The tungsten disulphide coating acts to reduce the incidence of tissue becoming adhered to the or each electrode surface (15, 16). Examples of electrosurgical instruments employing such coated electrodes include forceps, scissors or scalpel blade instruments.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of simulating the effects of a plurality of channels on a signal that includes the steps of acquiring a state transition matrix for each of said plurality of channels; acquiring an error matrix for each of said plurality of channels; selecting the first channel to be simulated; assuming that the signal is in a particular state; receiving the signal; generating a first number; determining the state to which the signal transitions; transitioning the signal to the state determined in the last step; generating a second number; determining what errors, if any, to inject into the signal by comparing the second number to entries in the column of the error matrix of the corresponding channel that matches the state of the signal; if one of the errors determined in the last step is lost signal then discarding the signal, not injecting any other error into the signal, selecting another channel if the user desires, assuming that the next signal selected is in the same state to which the

Abstract: An electrosurgical instrument for use in cutting and/or coagulating tissue includes one or more electrode surfaces coated with a material having a positive temperature coefficient of impedance. The PTC coating acts to control the temperature of the electrodes and to reduce the incidence of tissue becoming adhered to the electrode surface. Examples of electrosurgical instruments employing such coated electrodes include forceps, scissors or scalpel blade instruments.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable, extensible outer cover, a liquid permeable, extensible bodyside liner, and an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner. The extensible outer cover and extensible bodyside liner can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article is provided which includes a substantially liquid-impermeable outer cover, a liquid permeable bodyside liner, an absorbent body located between the outer cover and the bodyside liner, and a pair of leg elastics located on the laterally opposed side edges of the article in at least the intermediate section of the article. The outer cover can be configured to provide a substantially permanent deformation of at least about 10 percent when subjected to a tensile force of 100 gmf per inch (per 2.54 cm) of width according to the Material Elongation and Deformation Tensile Test set forth herein. The permanent deformation of the outer cover in use can result in the article having a substantially permanent leg elastic deformation value of at least about 3 percent when subjected to the Product Deformation Test set forth herein.

Abstract: A combined refrigerator-oven (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The refrigerator-oven (20) further includes a heating unit (50) and a refrigeration unit (70). A controller (118) is in communication with the heating unit (50) and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28). When a heating mode is selected, the controller (118) activates the heating unit (50) to produce heat (66) in the enclosed chamber (28).

Abstract: A combined refrigerator-oven apparatus (20) includes an enclosed chamber (28) having a top wall (22), a bottom wall (24), and vertical side walls (26). The bottom wall (24) has an airflow inlet opening (54). An airflow inlet gate (58) removably blocks the airflow inlet opening (54). A heating unit (50) is positioned in the enclosed chamber (28) and a refrigeration unit (70) is positioned outside of the enclosed chamber (28). The refrigeration unit (70) has a cool air duct (80) coupled to the airflow inlet opening (54). A controller (118) is in communication with each of the gate (58), the heating unit (50), and the refrigeration unit (70). When a cooling mode is selected, the controller (118) actuates the airflow inlet gate (58) to unblock the airflow inlet opening (54). The controller (118) further activates the refrigeration unit (70) to deliver cool air (62) into the enclosed chamber (28).

Abstract: A pant-like, prefastened, disposable absorbent article having elastic and/or extensible components to provide a Percent Fit Range of at least about 33%, more desirably about 80% to about 150%. The disposable absorbent article has prefastened fasteners to allow for easy donning of the article. After initial donning of the article, a waist size adjustment feature allows the waist perimeter dimension to be adjusted to conform the waist opening to the waist of the wearer.

Abstract: A voice processing system comprising a digital trunk processor 135 and a system unit 145 incorporates a local voice recognition resource 185 provided on a digital signal processing board 180, and can access a remote voice recognition resource 320 in a server 300 via a local area network 250. The system provides a barge-in facility for the recognition resource on the remote server, whereby a prompt is played out to the user, and the incoming telephony signal is fed into a voice activity detector on the digital trunk processor. Responsive to a detection of incoming voice activity, the outgoing prompt is terminated, and the incoming data is transferred over the local area network to the remote server for recognition.

Abstract: An assembly 10 for use in connecting optical fibers comprising a plurality of housings 12 for housing optical fibre connections. Each housing is pivotally mounted with respect to an associated rigid routing member 14 which has passages for routing fibers to the housing via respective flexible conduit means which extend between the routing member and the housing. Adjacent routing members 14 are push-fittable together such that the housings 12 are in an aligned bank when in stowed positions. Each housing 12 is pivotable from its stowed position out of alignment with the other housings for access.

Abstract: An electrical current sensing apparatus includes a magnetic flux sensor which may be disposed adjacent to or within an opening in a conductor. The magnetic flux sensor may be disposed adjacent to a corner of the opening around which magnetic flux resulting from a current conducted through the conductor tends to concentrate. The magnetic flux sensor includes a Hall effect device having a flux sensitive surface. In one embodiment, the conductor has a tubular cylindrical side wall with an opening in which the magnetic flux sensor is disposed. In another embodiment, the conductor has a rectangular configuration with an opening in which the magnetic flux sensor is disposed. In another embodiment, the magnetic flux sensor is mounted on the surface of the conductor adjacent to the opening.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method of processing Internet telephony messages at gateway computer such as an IBM RISC/6000 system, comprising the steps of: receiving an Internet telephony message in a first compression scheme from a computer running an Internet telephone software application which uses the first compression scheme; converting the Internet telephony message into a compression scheme optionally via an intermediate format; sending the Internet message telephony to another computer running another Internet telephone software application using the second format.