Abstract: A clutch mechanism includes clutch members having an engaged position, in which torque generated by a drive is transmitted to an output, and a disengaged position, in which torque is not transmitted to the output. The clutch members are capable of slipping with respect to each other in order to prevent damage caused by overload conditions. The clutch mechanism further comprises an actuator associated with a clutch member. If the clutch members slip and a characteristic associated with slipping of the clutch members, such as the temperature rise of the slipping surfaces or the relative rotational speed of the clutch members is above a predetermined value, transmission of torque to the output is interrupted. The clutch mechanism is particularly suited for inclusion in a drive mechanism for the agitator of a surface treating appliance, such as a vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: In one inventive aspect, a method of reactive targeted advertising provides for display of advertising, via the internet, to computers of users. In a particular example, a plurality of keywords are stored in a memory. The method comprises determining whether one or more of those keywords are used in a web page, and for any keywords determined to be used, an advertisement is selected using those keywords. The advertisement is for display on the computer of the user who is accessing the web page. A request is received for the selected advertisement, and the advertisement is provided, from an advertising server and over the internet, for display on the computer of the user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application includes programming that accesses the sewer to determine if one or more components of the application need upgrading. If so, the components can be downloaded and installed without further action by the user. A distribution tool is provided for software distribution and upgrading over the network. Also provided is a user profile that is accessible to any computer on the network. Furthermore, multiple users of the same computer can possess Internet web resources and files that are personalized, maintained and organized.

Abstract: An ultra violet light transmitting polymer is obtainable by the polymerisation of at least one compound having a substantially non UV absorbing core group comprising; linear or branched aliphatic hydrocarbons which may contain an aliphatic ring; or polydialkylsiloxanes. The compounds have at least one functional group comprising formula (A), (B) or (C):and each of the groups —R3— are, independently, linking groups which may be present or absent and, where present, may be a C1 to C10 hydrocarbon chain, which may contain an ether linkage. Methods for producing the polymers and uses for the polymers are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing a diamond surface including the steps of providing an original diamond surface, subjecting the original diamond surface to plasma etching to remove at least 2 nm of material from the original surface and produce a plasma etched surface, the roughness Rq of the plasma etched surface at the location of the etched surface where the greatest depth of material has been removed satisfying at least one of the following conditions: Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1.5 times the roughness of Rq of the original surface, or Rq of the plasma etched surface is less than 1 nm.

Abstract: The invention presented is a method for applying heat spreaders to a plurality of display panels, including (a) providing a plurality of heat spreader composites, each of which comprises a heat spreader material having an adhesive thereon and a release material positioned such that the adhesive is sandwiched between the heat spreader material and the release material; (b) removing the release material from a plurality of the composites; and (c) applying at least one of the composites to each of the plurality of display panels each such that the adhesive adheres the heat spreader material to the display panel.

Abstract: A heat spreader for a display device, such as a plasma display panel, a light emitting diode or a liquid crystal display, comprising at least one sheet of compressed particles of exfoliated graphite having a surface area greater than the surface area of that part of the back surface of the display device where a localized region of higher temperature is generated.

Abstract: A method is provided for detecting, measuring or controlling particles and/or electromagnetic radiation, comprising providing a deformable material containing a deformable aperture defining a path for particles or radiation, adjusting the deformable aperture to a prescribed geometry and/or size by deforming the deformable material to change at least one of the parameters of the path defined by the deformable aperture, and causing the particle or radiation to be detected, measured or controlled to enter the deformable aperture. The method includes the step of monitoring the geometry and/or size of the deformable aperture and controlling the adjustment of the size of the deformable aperture in response to such monitoring. The required apparatus is easily fabricated from inexpensive materials.

Abstract: A display comprises: a single-view image display panel (6); and a parallax optic (8) disposed over a display face of the image display panel for restricting the angular spread of light output from the display face of the image display panel. This enables light to be concentrated in a desired viewing angle range (66), and avoids a user (56) seeing unwanted reflections that may occur as a result of a greater viewing angle range (64) if the parallax optic (8) is not provided. The display may be used, as an example, in a motor vehicle to prevent unwanted reflections from the windscreen (62) of the vehicle.

Abstract: A cleaner head assembly for a vacuum cleaner includes a cleaner head body pivotably attachable to a main body of a vacuum cleaner and a brush housing pivotably mounted on the cleaner head body, the brush housing having a suction opening, a brush bar mounted therein and a resilient member provided to bias the brush housing in a pivoting direction so as to urge a rear portion of the brush housing in an upward direction with respect to the cleaner head body. This configuration allows the brush housing to be doubly articulated with respect to the main body of the vacuum cleaner as it is biased by the resilient member in the pivoting direction such that the rear portion of the brush housing is urged in an upward direction with respect to the cleaner head body and the suction opening remains in a horizontal plane.

Abstract: An array of light emitting devices, each device comprising a sloped wall mesa (24) of luminescent semiconductor material. Extending over the sloped wall mesas (24) is a metal contact (30). The array can be arranged as a parallel addressable system so that all devices (24) can be stimulated to emit light simultaneously. Alternatively, the array can be arranged as a matrix addressable array, in which case individual devices can be selectively stimulated.

Abstract: An optical device comprises an input polarizer 4, a patterned retarder 5 and an output polarizer 12. The retarder 5 has regions 8 and 9, at least one of which alters the polarization of light from the input polarizer 4. The output polarizer 7 has a transmission axis 12 such that light passing through the regions 8 and 9 of the retarder 5 and through the output polarizer 7 is matched in amplitude, phase and polarization. Such a device may be used as a switchable parallax barrier with an LCD 2 to provide a display which is switchable between an autostereoscopic 3D mode and a 2D mode with the 2D mode having more uniform intensity across the display.

Abstract: A graphite heat spreader is provided for use with a flash LED light source for a camera of a handheld device such as a cell phone. Dramatically reduced operating temperatures are provided at substantially increased power levels thus providing both improved lighting and improved operating life of the electronic components.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (70) comprises a liquid crystal cell (38) disposed between a front substrate (40) and a rear substrate (36), a front polariser (46) located in front of the front substrate (40) and a rear polariser (32) located behind the rear substrate (36), a front retarder (42, 44) located between the front substrate (40) and the front polariser (46), a rear retarder (62, 64) located between the rear substrate (36) and the rear polariser (32), and a light source (30) located behind the rear polariser (32). A transflective display having a number of differently coloured sequentially flashing backlights is also provided.

Abstract: A transflective liquid crystal display (70) comprises a liquid crystal cell (38) disposed between a front substrate (40) and a rear substrate (36), a front polariser (46) located in front of the front substrate (40) and a rear polariser (32) located behind the rear substrate (36), a front retarder (42, 44) located between the front substrate (40) and the front polariser (46), a rear retarder (62, 64) located between the rear substrate (36) and the rear polariser (32), and a light source (30) located behind the rear polariser (32). A transflective display having a number of differently coloured sequentially flashing backlights is also provided.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus comprises a processor constructed to operate under control of a sequence of program instructions selected from a predetermined instruction set; master circuitry to request access to storage locations of the processor; an interface circuit to provide an interface for an external apparatus to signal a request for access to the storage locations and an interface for the master circuitry to signal a request for access to the storage locations; and control to provide access between the storage locations and the interface circuit in response to the request only at predetermined points in execution of the stored program, the control being operable to fix periods of time for providing such access relative to the sequence of program instructions such that execution timing of the stored instructions is independent of whether a request is supplied to the interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an automatically upgradeable software application includes targeted advertising based upon demographics and user interaction with the computer. The software application includes a display region used for banner advertising that is downloaded over a network such as the Internet. The software application is accessible from a server via the network and demographic information on the user is acquired by the server and used for determining what advertising will be sent to the user. The software application further targets the advertisements in response to normal user interaction with the computer. Data associated with each advertisement is used by the software application in determining when a particular advertisement is to be displayed. This includes the specification of certain programs that the user may have so that, when the user runs the program (e.g., a spreadsheet program), a relevant advertisement will be displayed (e.g., an advertisement for a stock brokerage).

Abstract: Process for treating compositions containing uranium and plutonium, including spent nuclear fuel, are provided.

Abstract: A graphite heat spreader is provided for use with a flash LED light source for a camera of a handheld device such as a cell phone. Dramatically reduced operating temperatures are provided at substantially increased life of the electronic components.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for monitoring and controlling a device under test, the device under test comprising a plurality of registers, each register having a register value and comprising a plurality of data bits for controlling a setting or settings of the device under test. The apparatus comprises display means for displaying an interactive register map to a user. The interactive register map is configured to display a plurality of register values simultaneously, and further adapted to display one or more data fields corresponding to each register value, each data field relating to one or more of the data bits and having a first indicator for representing a corresponding device setting. In this manner, a user can readily appreciate which device settings are controlled by the same register value, and hence can be written simultaneously.