Abstract: A method of receiving satellite signals for estimating the location of capture of a photograph by a camera. The method comprises receiving a signal relating to the timing of capture of the photograph; waiting for an interval of non-zero duration; and, after the interval, receiving the satellite signals.

Abstract: A method of receiving satellite signals for estimating the location of capture of a photograph by a camera. The method comprises receiving a signal relating to the timing of capture of the photograph; waiting for an interval of non-zero duration; and, after the interval, receiving the satellite signals.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement (10) comprises a knitted electrically conductive electrode portion (12) containing electrically conductive yarn and at least one portion (14) of moisture impermeable electrically conductive material attached to the electrode portion (12). During use the electrode portion (12) and portion of material (14) are applied to a wearers skin. The moisture impermeable material portion (14) is of silicon loaded with carbon black. The moisture impermeable portion (14) encourages perspiration of a user and the perspiration trapped between the skin and moisture impermeable portion (14) reduces skin to electrode contact resistance to increase efficiency of detection of user heart rate or other electrical signals generated by a user.

Abstract: A fabric sensor for measuring body movement comprises first and second gripping sections and a third sensing section intermediate of the first and second sections. The third sensing section has a lower amount of grip than either the first or second gripping sections. The third sensing section comprises a construction of first and second fibres, the first fibres being of a conductive nature, and the second fibres being of an elastic nature. A garment comprising one or more substantially tubular sections for receiving a body portion and including one or more of the fabric sensors is also described.

Abstract: A pocket suitable for incorporation in garments, luggage items, personal accessories or the like is provided with an active mechanism and control apparatus to close the pocket. Such closing action may be triggered manually but can also be triggered automatically when the pocket is moved away from an upright orientation or experiences a jolting action. In one embodiment the closing action is performed by a length of shape memory material which contracts when heated to pull the pocket front panel top portion against the rear panel top portion and close the pocket opening.

Abstract: An electrode arrangement (10) comprises a knitted electrically conductive electrode portion (12) containing electrically conductive yarn and at least one portion (14) of moisture impermeable electrically conductive material attached to the electrode portion (12). During use the electrode portion (12) and portion of material (14) are applied to a wearers skin. The moisture impermeable material portion (14) is of silicon loaded with carbon black. The moisture impermeable portion (14) encourages perspiration of a user and the perspiration trapped between the skin and moisture impermeable portion (14) reduces skin to electrode contact resistance to increase efficiency of detection of user heart rate or other electrical signals generated by a user.

Abstract: A method and system for anonymously and opportunistically tracking the location of a portable device in a wireless infrastructure is described. The system comprises an installed infrastructure (12) in for example a shopping mall, the infrastructure having short range radio stations (14a,14b) primarily installed as wireless information access points. Standard communication between a users device (10a) and a station (14a) is according to a short range radio protocol such as ZigBee in which devices are assigned unique identifiers. In an exchange, the identifier is correlated with location, time and date data and uploaded via a backchannel connection (16) to a database (20) which a user may connect with at a later time. The user, knowing his objects identifier, can therefore access the data to determine where his object last interacted with a station.

Abstract: A pocket suitable for incorporation in garments, luggage items, personal accessories or the like is provided with an active mechanism and control apparatus to close the pocket. Such closing action may be triggered manually but can also be triggered automatically when the pocket is moved away from an upright orientation or experiences a jolting action. In one embodiment the closing action is performed by a length of shape memory material which contracts when heated to pull the pocket front panel top portion against the rear panel top portion and close the pocket opening.

Abstract: A pocket suitable for incorporation in garments, luggage items, personal accessories or the like is provided with an active mechanism and control apparatus to close the pocket. Such closing action may be triggered manually but can also be triggered automatically when the pocket is moved away from an upright orientation or experiences a jolting action. In one embodiment the closing action is performed by a length of shape memory material which contracts when heated to pull the pocket front panel top portion against the rear panel top portion and close the pocket opening.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of a force exerted by a persons foot on the ground is provided in a shoe, the sensor interposed between the foot and the ground in the region of the sole of the shoe. The sensor includes a resilient compressible elastomeric middle layer of insulating material disposed between a lower conductive fabric layer and a plurality of upper conductive fabric layer portions. The resilient elastomeric layer includes a plurality of embedded electrically conductive metal filaments extending from a first surface towards a second surface of the elastomeric layer. In regions of the sensor compressed by force ‘F’ due to a persons weight the thickness of the elastomeric layer is reduced and so the metal filaments are of sufficient length to provide electrical continuity through the elastomeric layer between the lower and upper conductive fabric.

Abstract: The use of an amine functional polymer, including salts thereof, as a rheology modifier for solvent-based paints, inks, filled thermosetting resins and thermosetting resin-based gelcoats whereby the amine functional polymer contains not less that 42% by weight of the residue of one or more amine-containing monomers, or salts thereof, relative to the weight of the polymer. Preferably the amine functional polymer is obtainable from two or more monomers which contain at least one ethylenically unsaturated group such as styrene and 2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate.

Abstract: The use of an amine functional polymer, including salts thereof, as a rheology modifier for solvent-based paints, inks, filled thermosetting resins and thermosetting resin-based gelcoats whereby the amine functional polymer contains not less that 42% by weight of the residue of one or more amine-containing monomers, or salts thereof, relative to the weight of the polymer. Preferably the amine functional polymer is obtainable from two or more monomers which contain at least one ethylenically unsaturated group such as styrene and 2-dimethylaminoethylmethacrylate.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the presence of a force exerted by a persons foot on the ground is provided in a shoe, the sensor being interposed between the foot and the ground in the region of the sole of the shoe. The sensor includes a resilient compressible elastomeric middle layer of insulating material disposed between a lower conductive fabric layer and a plurality of upper conductive fabric layer portions. The resilient elastomeric layer includes a plurality of embedded electrically conductive metal filaments extending from a first surface towards a second surface of the elastomeric layer. In regions of the sensor compressed by force ‘F’ due to a persons weight the thickness of the elastomeric layer is reduced and so the metal filaments are of sufficient length to provide electrical continuity through the elastomeric layer between the lower and upper conductive fabric.

Abstract: A pocket suitable for incorporation in garments, luggage items, personal accessories or the like is provided with an active mechanism and control apparatus to close the pocket. Such closing action may be triggered manually but can also be triggered automatically when the pocket is moved away from an upright orientation or experiences a jolting action. In one embodiment the closing action is performed by a length of shape memory material which contracts when heated to pull the pocket front panel top portion against the rear panel top portion and close the pocket opening.

Abstract: A rheology modifier for solvent-based coatings which is a polyacrylic acid or a poly(C.sub.1-4)-alkyl acrylic acid wherein at least 30% of the --COOH groups are converted to ester and/or amide groups. Preferred compounds are esters of polyacrylic acid where about 50% of the --COOH groups are esterified with a C.sub.4-12 -alcohol.

Abstract: A semiconductor body (2) has a first region (3) providing a current path to a first main electrode (4) and carrying a plurality of active device cells (5). The majority (5a) of the active device cells are connected to a second main electrode (6) for providing a main current path through the device between the first and second main electrodes (4 and 6). At least one remaining active device cell forms a monitor cell (5b) and is connected to a monitor electrode (7) for providing a monitor current path through the device between the first main electrode (4) and the monitor electrode (7). The one monitor cell (5b) is formed differently from the majority (5a) of the active device cells so as to be more susceptible to failure than the majority of the active device cells so providing an early warning of the imminent failure of the device enabling evasive action to be taken to inhibit failure of the entire device.

Abstract: A semiconductor component is formed by an insulated gate field effect device having a semiconductor body with a first region of one conductivity type adjacent one major surface, a second region defining a conduction channel area separating a third region from the first region, an insulated gate adjoining the conduction channel area for controlling current flow between the first and third regions and an injection region for injecting opposite conductivity type charge carriers into the first region, and a protection device for limiting the current through the insulated gate field effect device. The protection device is formed by a fourth region of the opposite conductivity type formed within the first region, a fifth region separated from the first region by the fourth region, a first conductive path connecting the fifth region to the insulated gate for allowing the flow of one conductivity type charge carriers towards the insulated gate and a second conductive path connected to the fourth region.

Abstract: A semiconductor component (1a) has first and second insulated gate field effect devices (T1 and T2) formed within the same seminconductor body (2). The devices (T1 and T2) have a common first main electrode (D) and an arrangement (20) provides a resistive connection (20b) between a second main electrode (S2)of the second device (T2) and the insulated gate (G1) of the first device (T1). The second device (T2) is formed so as to be more susceptible than the first device (T1) to parasitic bipolar transistor action for causing, when the first and second devices (T1 and T2) are turned off and a voltage exceeding a critical voltage (V.sub.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a thyristor (4,5,8,9) in which connection is made to the cathode region (9) of the thyristor by means of an MOS structure. The MOS structure is provided by a fifth region (11) forming a pn junction with the cathode region (9), a sixth region (13) in contact with the cathode electrode (C) and forming a pn junction (14) with the fifth region (11), and an insulated gate (15) overlying a conduction channel area (110) of the fifth region (11) for defining a gateable conductive path for charge carriers into the cathode region (9) to initiate thyristor action. The conductive path is thus controlled by the voltage applied to the insulated gate (15), enabling the flow of charge carriers to the cathode region (9) to be stemmed by application of an appropriate gate voltage oxide. The fifth region (11) is electrically connected to provide a path for extraction of charge carriers during turn-off of the thyristor, thereby improving the controllable current capability of the thyristor.

Abstract: A mixture of two or more gases is contacted with a surface of a gas separation membrane and a gas having a different composition is removed from the vicinity of an opposite surface of the membrane, where the membrane is formed from a sulphonated polyarylsulphone or polyarylketone. The membrane may be a dense film or may be an asymmetric membrane. The process is particularly suitable for the separation of hydrogen from a hydrogen/nitrogen mixture when separation factors considerably in excess of 100 may be achieved together with an acceptable permeability. The membrane is preferably formed from a sulphonated polyarylethersulphone, for example one having repeat units of the formula ##STR1## where Ph.sup.1 is a phenylene residue and at least some of the groups Ph.sup.1 are sulphonated and n is 1 or 2 and the value can differ along the polymer chain. Divalent metal salts give membranes of high permeability which have a good separation factor.