Abstract: Disclosed herein is a computer system operating on a local power supply of finite capacity has a plurality of system components each connected to a voltage supply system to draw current for their operation. The computer system includes a measuring circuit connected to detect prevailing usage of the local power supply, for example, a battery. The supply system is connected to receive an indication from the measuring circuit of excessive usage and is adapted to reduce the available supply voltage to selected ones of the system components. Each system component is associated with a clock controller which selects a clock frequency for operation of a component in dependence on the available voltage supply. Also disclosed is a supply system for a computer device operating on a local power supply of finite capacity.

Abstract: A toy launching assembly for pneumatically launching toy projectiles. The toy launching assembly has a base structure that contains an open port. A tube carousel rotates atop the base structure. The tube carousel holds a plurality of launching tubes. A pulse of air is generated by rapidly compressing an air bladder. The pulse of air travels through an air hose to the base structure. Within the base structure, the pulse of air directed to the open port under the tube carousel. An indexing mechanism is used to rotates the tube carousel and sequentially positions one of the launching tubes over the open port each time the air bladder is sufficiently compressed. Once positioned over the open port, the pulse of air generated by the air bladder travels through the launching tube and displaced a toy projectile from the launching tube.

Abstract: A toy projectile launcher assembly has the form of a crossbow. The crossbow only launches the safety projectiles that are provided. The launcher body has a handle at a first end and diverging support arms at an opposite second end. An adjustment mechanism is contained within the launcher body for selectively adjusting the length of the launcher body. The crossbow has diverging support arms. Bow arms are attached to the support arms. The bow arms pivot from retracted positions to extended positions when a projectile is loaded into the toy crossbow. The toy crossbow has elastic loops that can only engage specialized safety projectiles with side. Furthermore, the trigger mechanism can only engage the safety projectiles provided with the toy. Projectiles without a specific tab and keyhole cannot be loaded into the toy crossbow.

Abstract: A toy projectile launcher assembly has the form of a crossbow. The crossbow only launches the safety projectiles that are provided. The launcher body has a handle at a first end and diverging support arms at an opposite second end. An adjustment mechanism is contained within the launcher body for selectively adjusting the length of the launcher body. The crossbow has diverging support arms. Bow arms are attached to the support arms. The bow arms pivot from retracted positions to extended positions when a projectile is loaded into the toy crossbow. The toy crossbow has elastic loops that can only engage specialized safety projectiles with side. Furthermore, the trigger mechanism can only engage the safety projectiles provided with the toy. Projectiles without a specific tab and keyhole cannot be loaded into the toy crossbow.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes: a processor; a plurality of external pins operatively coupled to the processor; and a permanently written memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory having a plurality of regions each storing one or more respective boot properties for booting the processor. The processor is programmed to select one of the regions in dependence on an indication received via one or more of the external pins, to retrieve the one or more respective boot properties from the selected region, and to boot using the one or more retrieved boot properties.

Abstract: A toy projectile launching system that launches a toy projectile. The launcher has a handle. The handle is offset between two supports. A first arm element is coupled to the first support. A first elastic loop is anchored to the first arm element. The first elastic loop has a looped section that extends into an open area. A second arm element is coupled to the second support. A second elastic loop is anchored to the second arm element. The second elastic loop has a looped section that extends into the open area. The looped sections of the first elastic loop and the second elastic loop are spaced to receive and engage opposing hook elements on the toy projectile when the toy projectile is manually drawn through the open area.

Abstract: A toy bow assembly used to launch toy projectiles. The toy bow assembly has a rigid bow structure. The bow structure has a first arm section, a second arm section, and a central region. Two separate and distinct elastic elements are provided to launch a projectile. The first elastic element is anchored to the first arm section of the bow structure. A second elastic element is anchored to the second arm section. Both of the elastic elements terminate with loop structures that extend into the central region between the first and second arm sections. A toy projectile is provided that has extending hooks. The hooks on the projectile engage the loop structures of the elastic elements. When the projectile is drawn back, the elastic elements stretch and provide the spring energy needed to launch the projectile into flight when it is released.

Abstract: A toy bow assembly that is used to launch toy projectiles. The toy bow assembly includes a bow structure having a first arm section and a second arm section. Both the first arm section and the second arm section contain at least one translucent area. Lights are disposed within both the first arm section and the second arm section. The lights internally illuminate the translucent areas of the first arm section and second arm section when activated. An activation switch is disposed on the bow structure for selectively activating and deactivating the lights.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: an execution unit; a plurality of addressable devices; and a data transfer engine coupled to the execution unit and to the devices, operable to fetch a plurality of descriptors under control of the execution unit, and based on each of the fetched descriptors to perform a transfer of data from a respective first to a respective second of the devices. The DMA engine comprises delay circuitry operable to block, during a delay period running from an earlier of the transfers, any later of the transfers involving at least one of the same devices as the earlier transfer, the delay circuitry being arranged to control the blocking in dependence on an indication received in one of the descriptors.

Abstract: A toy bow assembly that is used to launch toy projectiles. The toy bow assembly includes a bow structure having a first arm section and a second arm section. Both the first arm section and the second arm section have sheathed areas that are protected from ambient light. A central area is disposed between the first arm section and the second arm section. A first elastic element extends through the first sheathed area into the central area, wherein the first sheathed area shields the first elastic element from exposure to ambient light. Likewise, a second elastic element extends through the second sheathed area and into the central area, wherein the second sheathed area shields the second elastic element from exposure to ambient light.

Abstract: A circuit and method for determining the frequency of a first oscillating reference signal generated by a first reference oscillator. The circuit comprises: a second reference oscillator arranged to generate a second oscillating reference signal having a known frequency, a boot memory storing boot code comprising clock configuration code, and a processor coupled to the boot memory and the second reference oscillator. The processor is arranged to execute the boot code from the boot memory upon booting, wherein when executed the clock configuration code operates the processor to determine the frequency of the first reference signal by reference to the second reference signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spar based vessel for accessing offshore installations and vessels, including wind farm turbines, in which the centre of gravity of the vessel is positioned below the centre of buoyancy, which is positioned below the operational waterline, the operational waterline occurs at low cross-sectional area vertical struts, and the vertical struts support a topside structure for passengers. Active ballast control system and location of the propulsive elements permits the vessel to travel in spar orientation by positioning the vector of propulsion to lie in the same horizontal plane as the transverse centre of drag of the vessel. A docking system permits safe connection of the vessel to offshore installations, including wind turbines of generic design.

Abstract: A method of controlling the clock frequency of a processor executing software in a plurality of active periods, the method comprising, for each period: supplying to a power management application at least one parameter defining an execution profile for the period having high frequency and low frequency operating intervals; the power management application determining, based on said profile, granted clock frequencies for the high and low frequency operating intervals; the processor supplying to the power management application at the commencement of a period an operating cycle requirement for the period; the power management application determining, for each period, based on the operating cycle requirement, the length of the low frequency interval; and controlling the clock frequency in each interval based on the granted clock frequencies determined by the power management application.

Abstract: An integrated circuit is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit includes: a processor; a plurality of external pins operatively coupled to the processor; and a permanently written memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory having a plurality of regions each storing one or more respective boot properties for booting the processor. The processor is programmed to select one of the regions in dependence on an indication received via one or more of the external pins, to retrieve the one or more respective boot properties from the selected region, and to boot using the one or more retrieved boot properties.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprising: a processor; a plurality of external pins operatively coupled to the processor; and a permanently written memory operatively coupled to the processor, the memory having a plurality of regions each storing one or more respective boot properties for booting the processor. The processor is programmed to select one of the regions in dependence on an indication received via one or more of the external pins, to retrieve the one or more respective boot properties from the selected region, and to boot using the one or more retrieved boot properties.

Abstract: A circuit and corresponding method for transferring data. The circuit comprises: a CPU; a plurality of addressable devices; and a DMA engine coupled to the CPU and to those devices, the DMA engine comprising a plurality of DMA contexts each having fetch circuitry for fetching a DMA descriptor indicated by the CPU and transfer circuitry for transferring data from one to another of the devices based on a fetched descriptor. The DMA engine further comprises switching means operable to control a group of the contexts to alternate in a complementary sequence between fetching and performing a transfer, such that alternately one or more contexts in the group fetch while one or more others perform a transfer.

Abstract: A circuit comprising: an execution unit; a plurality of addressable devices; and a data transfer engine coupled to the execution unit and to the devices, operable to fetch a plurality of descriptors under control of the execution unit, and based on each of the fetched descriptors to perform a transfer of data from a respective first to a respective second of the devices. The DMA engine comprises delay circuitry operable to block, during a delay period running from an earlier of the transfers, any later of the transfers involving at least one of the same devices as the earlier transfer, the delay circuitry being arranged to control the blocking in dependence on an indication received in one of the descriptors.

Abstract: A digital system is provided with a secure mode (3rd level of privilege) built in a non-invasive way on a processor system that includes a processor core, instruction and data caches, a write buffer and a memory management unit. A secure execution mode is thus provided on a platform where the only trusted software is the code stored in ROM. In particular the OS is not trusted, all native applications are not trusted. A secure execution mode is provided that allows virtual addressing when a memory management unit (MMU) is enabled. The secure execution mode allows instruction and data cache to be enabled. A secure execution mode is provided that allows all the system interruptions to be unmasked. The secure mode is entered through a unique entry point. The secure execution mode can be dynamically entered and exited with full hardware assessment of the entry/exit conditions. A specific set of entry conditions is monitored that account for caches, write buffer and MMU being enabled.