Abstract: A radio receiver accumulates, over all hops of a frequency hopping cycle, digital samples of a carrier signal correlated with a spreading sequence, and performs a Fourier transformation of the accumulated digital samples to generate output data representative of data conveyed by the carrier signal and/or the time of receipt of the carrier signal. The receiver includes a processor arranged to synchronize itself with the frequency hopping cycle and with the spreading sequence at each predetermined value of frequency, by repeating the correlation at different phases of the hopping sequence and of the spreading sequence so as to maximize the output data The correlation and accumulation are performed at a higher sampling rate over a high-resolution portion of one spreading sequence cycle than over the remainder of that spreading sequence cycle.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a connector, an array of connectors, a method for manufacturing the connectors, and a method for using the connectors. The connectors are capable of carrying electrical or electric signal and include geometries to operate in holding, latching, or locking applications. The connector can include a contact housing formed by a first electrically conductive housing, a second electrically conductive housing and a housing sealing component at least partially isolating said first and second electrically conductive housings from each other. A body, such as a pin, a rod, or an elongated member, is provided. A first electrically conductive spring is located in a first groove and a second electrically conductive spring is located in a second groove inside the contact housing. Wherein a first electrical path and a second electrical path are formed when the body is inserted into the contact housing. In other examples, more than two electrical paths can be provided.

Abstract: A method comprising: obtaining a disparity map for one of a left eye image and a right eye image, the disparity map indicating the horizontal displacement between corresponding pixels in the left eye image and the right eye image; generating a luminance representation of the disparity map, wherein a disparity unit which defines the resolution of the disparity map, is mapped to a corresponding luminance value; and companding the luminance value for transmission over a luminance channel is described.

Abstract: An electrically conductive spring having first and second coils defining first and second electrical pathways for completing an electric circuit between two components which may move relative to each other. In one embodiment, the spring is a double start helical spring with first and second coils extending between respective, electrically insulated ends with the coils extending in alternating, spaced relation to each other.

Abstract: A method of determining compatibility of a virtual machine or virtual machine disk file with a host, including a storage host, is disclosed. A lookup matrix is created to provide a fast compatibility lookup for a group of computing objects and a group of hosts. To create the lookup matrix, computing object properties are retrieved from each of the plurality of computing objects. The computing object properties include resource requirements of each of the plurality of computing objects. Further, host properties are retrieved from each of the plurality of hosts. The method further includes creating a plurality of host logical groups of a subset of the plurality of hosts having substantially same host properties and creating a plurality of computing object logical groups of a subject of the plurality of computing objects having substantially same computing object properties.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and media for facilitating somatic embryogenesis and for collecting, conditioning, and transferring the washed embryos onto a substrate and into an environment suitable for conditioning the embryos for a desired period of time so they become germination-competent for plant production. The described plant embryo cleaning apparatus and method are used for preparing multiple plant embryos for plant production. The apparatus and method can use a cleaning fluid source, a fluid-conditioning system, a fluid-delivery structure, a cleaning station, an outlet mechanism, a negative pressure source, and a controller.

Abstract: An insert (10) for a cutting tool (100) for use down a well bore comprises a body of a hard material (tungsten carbide) suitable for cutting steel. The body is shaped for formation in a mould that comprises a die (70) and first (74) and second (78) punches and arranged so that the first punch can eject the body after formation from an opening of the die closed during formation by said second punch. The insert has first (12) and second (14) ends whose faces are defined, at least in part, by corresponding faces of the first and second punch. Between them is a longitudinal axis (24) of the insert. The area of the first end is less than the area of the second end. The body has flanks (16) that form ridges (18) extending between the first and second ends. The ridges form cutting edges of the insert. They are separated by V-shaped troughs (20) of said flanks. The ridges taper and spiral about the axis.

Abstract: Described herein are methods and media for facilitating somatic embryogenesis and for collecting, conditioning, and transferring the washed embryos onto a substrate and into an environment suitable for conditioning the embryos for a desired period of time so they become germination-competent for plant production. The described plant embryo cleaning apparatus and method are used for preparing multiple plant embryos for plant production. The apparatus and method can use a cleaning fluid source, a fluid-conditioning system, a fluid-delivery structure, a cleaning station, an outlet mechanism, a negative pressure source, and a controller.

Abstract: A heat-sealable, peelable, coextruded composite polymeric film comprising a substrate layer of polymeric material having on a surface thereof a heat-sealable layer, wherein said heat-sealable layer comprises a copolyester of least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid, at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and one or more glycol(s); the thickness of said heat-sealable layer is in the range of from about 0.3 to about 3 ?m; and the heat-sealable layer comprises one or more wax(es) is described.

Abstract: A method of construction of a tungsten carbide/TSP insert for hard facing a wear surface comprises the steps of forming a tungsten carbide body (12) in a mould. After the moulding step, a channel section slot (24) or pocket (24?) is created in the body before it has hardened substantially. The body is then heat-treated to harden it. A TSP body (32) is fitted in the slot/pocket (24/24?) so that it is a close sliding fit between the sides (18) of the slot, and is of the same depth as the slot. The TSP is (preferably) brazed into the slot. The insert has pips (30) on its edges (18) to facilitate welding to a substrate prior to a final brazing step.

Abstract: A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.

Abstract: A service to a user is prevented by providing, to the user, at least one communication link used to provide multiple services to the user. The plurality of services are activated over the at least one communication link. Transmission for the prevented service is prevented based on at least one characteristic of the at least one communication link over which the prevented service would be provided.

Abstract: A method for progressively dewatering a pipe or pipeline includes the use of a loose-fitting spherical- or quasi-spherical shaped pig body which rolls forward through the interior space of the pipe and temporarily captures and redistributes a portion of the volume of liquids available for capture and redistribution as the pig body rolls on past. Preferably, the portion captured is less than the volume available for capture. A part of the captured liquid may be redistributed to an upper quadrant of the pipe. Capture and redistribution are accomplished by way of a first bypass pathway and a second bypass pathway. One of the pathways may be a through-body pathway. The pig body may be a hollow pig body with a plurality of spaced-apart ports, a solid pig body with a plurality of paddle-like structures, or a cube-sphere type pig body with recessed external wall surfaces.

Abstract: A unitary pulse tube expander for removable attachment to a SADA II coldfinger and insertion within a Dewar assembly. The regenerator of the pulse tube expander is encased in a regenerator sleeve and a cold cap to create a unitary pulse tube expander that may function as a drop-in replacement for a Stirling type expander in a SADA II coldfinger cryocooler.

Abstract: A method and system for launching a pipeline pig includes the steps of compressing a modulating bypass valve of a pipeline pig and installing a locking means to temporally maintain the bypass valve in the compressed state. Once the pig has travelled a predetermined distance through the pipeline, the locking means is released and retrieved through the launch trap door. The locking means is preferably a launching pin having a clip attachment that receives the clips of a retractable lead. The lead is housed by a retraction device that is detachably secured to the launch trap door. The modulating valve has sufficient mass and aerodynamic drag to overcome the force of a gas spring. The valve moves between a retracted and compressed position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig stalling and between the compressed and retracted position substantially instantaneously upon the pipeline pig accelerating.

Abstract: An electrically conductive spring having first and second coils defining first and second electrical pathways for completing an electric circuit between two components which may move relative to each other. In one embodiment, the spring is a double start helical spring with first and second coils extending between respective, electrically insulated ends with the coils extending in alternating, spaced relation to each other.

Abstract: A radio receiver arranged to sample an input signal comprising a carrier signal modulated by a predetermined spreading sequence of pseudo-noise code symbols or chips that is stored in the receiver, the carrier signal frequency hopping between predetermined values in a predetermined sequence which is repeated cyclically and is stored in the receiver; the receiver being arranged to accumulate, over all the hops of the frequency hopping cycle, digital samples of the input signal correlated with the spreading sequence, and to perform a Fourier transformation of the accumulated digital samples to generate output data representative of data conveyed by the input signal and/or the time of receipt of the input signal; the receiver comprising a processor arranged to synchronise itself with the frequency hopping cycle and with the spreading sequence at each predetermined value of frequency, by repeating the correlation at different phases of the hopping sequence and of the spreading sequence such as to maximise the out

Abstract: A method of conducting real time, on-line financial transactions includes operating at least one communication network (12) which can communicate with first and second communication devices (14, 16) having first and second electronic addresses respectively, the communication network (12) being in communication with one or more databases (20) which contain details of first and second accounts, receiving information from the first communication device (14), which information includes details of transfer to be made into the second account from the first account, communicating a signal to interrogate the first account to determine if the transfer can be made, and if the transfer can be made, debiting the first account with the amount of the transfer, and crediting the second account with the amount of the transfer.

Abstract: A method of determining compatibility of a virtual machine or virtual machine disk file with a host, including a storage host, is disclosed. A lookup matrix is created to provide a fast compatibility lookup for a group of computing objects and a group of hosts. To create the lookup matrix, computing object properties are retrieved from each of the plurality of computing objects. The computing object properties include resource requirements of each of the plurality of computing objects. Further, host properties are retrieved from each of the plurality of hosts. The method further includes creating a plurality of host logical groups of a subset of the plurality of hosts having substantially same host properties and creating a plurality of computing object logical groups of a subject of the plurality of computing objects having substantially same computing object properties.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling a synthetic character using a control system displays the character engaged in an activity, receiving a first input from a user, determines whether the input is relevant to the activity, if the input is relevant to the activity, and shows the character react to the input, the character being highly expressive and highly reactive. A system and method for displaying a synthetic character provides speech data, creates modified speech data by modifying at least one of the pitch or duration of at least a portion of the speech data and generates modified speech sounds associated with the character using the modified speech data.