Abstract: A solar energy turbine includes solar energy trap (1110) having a chamber with an inlet port (12), such that solar energy (13) entering the chamber through the inlet port is absorbed and reflected within the chamber means until substantially all the solar energy is absorbed by the chamber. Preferably, the inlet port is arranged to cause photons of the solar energy entering the chamber to circulate substantially in a single direction within the chamber until absorbed, such that on re-passing the inlet port substantially no photons emerge from the inlet port. The solar energy turbine includes a heat exchanger (1150, 1160, 1170) for extracting energy from the solar energy trap to drive a turbine (1120).

Abstract: A solar energy trap (10) includes a chamber (11) having inlet post (12), such that solar energy (13) entering the chamber (11) through the inlet port (12) is absorbed and reflected within the chamber (11) means until substantially all the solar energy (13) is absorbed by the chamber (11). Preferably, the inlet port (12) is arranged to cause photons of the solar energy (13) entering the chamber (11) to circulate substantially in a single direction within the chamber (11) until absorbed, such that on re-passing the inlet port (12) substantially no photons emerge from the inlet port (12).

Abstract: A solar energy turbine includes solar energy trap (1110) having a chamber with an inlet port (12), such that solar energy (13) entering the chamber through the inlet port is absorbed and reflected within the chamber means until substantially all the solar energy is absorbed by the chamber. Preferably, the inlet port is arranged to cause photons of the solar energy entering the chamber to circulate substantially in a single direction within the chamber until absorbed, such that on re-passing the inlet port substantially no photons emerge from the inlet port. The solar energy turbine includes a heat exchanger (1150, 1160, 1170) for extracting energy from the solar energy trap to drive a turbine (1120).

Abstract: A solar energy trap (10) includes a chamber (11) having inlet post (12), such that solar energy (13) entering the chamber (11) through the inlet port (12) is absorbed and reflected within the chamber (11) means until substantially all the solar energy (13) is absorbed by the chamber (11). Preferably, the inlet port (12) is arranged to cause photons of the solar energy (13) entering the chamber (11) to circulate substantially in a single direction within the chamber (11) until absorbed, such that on re-passing the inlet port (12) substantially no photons emerge from the inlet port (12).

Abstract: A period-to-digital converter includes a clock (1) for generating a timing signal, delay lines (2) for producing cumulatively incrementally delayed timing signals for each cycle of the timing signal and an isolator (3) connected in parallel to the delay lines for generating a signal indicative of a number of partial cycles of timing signal corresponding to which to the incrementally delayed turning signals last contained a specific feature. First and second counters (5, 8) connected to the isolator are enabled for successive time periods to be measured and the first and second latches (11, 12) respectively connected to the first and second counters are latched at the end of alternate successive time periods respectively. An arithmetic module (22) connected to the first and second latches obtains difference values between their output values, which difference values are representative of the successive time periods respectively.

Abstract: A pulse detector has a leading edge detector and a trailing edge detector. A timing circuit is provided for determining the pulse duration between the leading edge and the trailing edge of a signal pulse; and a divider divides the pulse duration to produce a first timing pulse representative of a mid-point or peak of the signal pulse. An inventer may also be provided to produce a second timing pulse representative of troughs between signal pulses. A combiner may optionally be provided for combining the first and second timing pulses. The detector has application in signal cleaning circuits.

Abstract: A pulse detector has a leading edge detector and a trailing edge detector. A timing circuit is provided for determining the pulse duration between the leading edge and the trailing edge of a signal pulse; and a divider divides the pulse duration to produce a first timing pulse representative of a mid-point or peak of the signal pulse. An inventer may also be provided to produce a second timing pulse representative of troughs between signal pulses. A combiner may optionally be provided for combining the first and second timing pulses. The detector has application in signal cleaning circuits.

Abstract: A Pulse Clock Delay (PCT) apparatus (208) includes a selectable plurality (Nd) of series-connected pulse transition delay units (209) from a total plurality (Nmax) of such units. Each unit provides an incremental proximal node (n1a) and an adjacent electrically isolated second intermediate node (n1b) where the first and second intermediate nodes are in a shorter (215a, 215b) of two signal paths having respective proximal and spaced apart distal ends (212, 216) in an electrical network.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrator is formed in the shape of a spiral horn, so that solar energy incident over a wide range of incident angles on the mouth of the horn is concentrated by multiple reflections from inner walls of the horn to emerge from an exit aperture at the centre of the horn. Solar energy emerging from the collector may be distributed by light pipes to illuminate a building or may be transmitted to a solar energy conversion chamber having a small entry aperture. The entry aperture acts as black body absorbing all solar energy incident upon it and the solar energy may be converted within the chamber either by photovoltaic cells and/or by heat absorbing media.

Abstract: A Pulse Clock Delay (PCD) apparatus (208) includes a selectable plurality (Nd) of series-connected pulse transition delay units (209) from a total plurality (Nmax) of such units. Each unit provides an incremental transition delay interval DELTA t. The PCD may be connected to a first intermediate proximal node (n1a) and an adjacent electrically isolated second intermediate node (n1b) where the first and second intermediate nodes are in a shorter (215a, 215b) of two signal paths having respective proximal and spaced apart distal ends (212, 216) in an electrical network.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrator (1) is formed in the shape of a spiral horn, so that solar energy incident over a wide range of incident angles on the mouth (2) of the horn is concentrated by multiple reflections from inner walls (5) of the horn to emerge from an exit aperture (3) at the center of the horn. Solar energy emerging from the collector may be distributed by light pipes (40) to illuminate a building or may be transmitted to a solar energy conversion chamber (50) having a small entry aperture (51). The entry aperture (51) acts as black body absorbing all solar energy incident upon it and the solar energy may be converted within the chamber (50) either by photovoltaic cells and/or by heat absorbing media.

Abstract: A device which reduces jitter and narrows the frequency spectrum of a jitter-ridden clock signal includes a basic unit having a plurality of series connected delay elements outputs from each delay element are all connected to an AND/NAND gate. A front end of the device locates missing clock pulses and ensures regular clock pulses are relayed to the remainder of the device. A succeeding section including plural basic units hones the signal such that jitter elements are removed. By the output of this section time duty cycles are uneven, a positive edge triggered flip-flop is then used to obtain 50% duty cycles at the expense of halving the clock signal's frequency. Optionally a frequency doubler can be employed to regain the clock signal's original frequency.

Abstract: An analogue to digital converter has input for receiving an analogue signal and a frequency modulator for modulating the frequency of a carrier signal in dependence upon the analogue input signal. A digital counter counts the time between successive events in the modulated signal to provide digital signals representative of the analogue input signal.