Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. Embodiments disclosed include a particle characterization method, comprising: suspending particles in a fluid; causing the suspended particles to flow past a two-dimensional array detector; illuminating the suspended particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; acquiring a plurality of images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid; and applying a particle characterization function to results of steps of acquiring a plurality of images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods and device for detecting properties of heterogeneous samples, including detecting properties of particles or fluid droplets in industrial processes. A probe may be inserted into a first of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the first sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the first sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the first sample may be acquired. The probe may be inserted into a second of multiple heterogeneous fluid samples. A portion of the second sample may be drawn into the probe and past a two-dimensional array detector. The portion of the second sample may be illuminated as it is drawn past the array detector and an image of the portion of the second sample may be acquired.

Abstract: An improved adjustable lawn sprinkler is provided having a counterbalanced nozzle assembly having a nozzle. The nozzle assembly is connected to a rotating mechanism allowing the nozzle to freely rotate. The lawn sprinkler has a guide member for supporting barrier supporters which support barriers to form a user defined shape which corresponds to the irrigation area. The guide member is attached to support structures. The nozzle assembly is in fluid communication with a water transfer member which is in fluid communication with a water inlet member which is further in fluid communication with a fluid source. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for the processing of conditional access television signals that includes an input interface for receiving encrypted television signals and an output interface for output of decrypted television signals. The semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with some functionality restricted in some way by preventing one or more hardware circuit elements from operating, such as an MPEG decoder, display engine, IO ports or main CPU. To enable the functionality, a subscriber must pay for a service and then receives an encrypted message broadcast to the semiconductor integrated circuit that is decrypted and instructs functionality to be turned on or off.

Abstract: In one general aspect, a particle characterization method is disclosed that includes suspending particles in a fluid, causing them to flow past a two-dimensional array detector, and illuminating them as they do so. The method also includes acquiring images of the particles as they flow past the two-dimensional array detector in the fluid, and applying a particle characterization function to the images for at least some of the suspended particles.

Abstract: A data monitoring and analysis system suitable for performing real-time monitoring of vehicle information systems installed aboard a passenger vehicle fleet and methods for manufacturing and using same. The data monitoring and analysis system includes a loadscript system for establishing a communication channel with each vehicle information system. Continuously receiving performance data accumulated by the vehicle information systems, the loadscript system validates and parses the performance data and provides the resultant performance data to a database system for further analysis. The database system enables fleet operators to generate reports with consolidated performance data for the vehicle fleet, to stratify the performance data based upon one or more variables, and/or to drill down into subsets of the performance data to understand root causes underlying system performance.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food composition preferably for changing body composition and/or physical work capacity. The invention further provides a method of improving body composition and/or physical work capacity. In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a food composition for use in changing the body composition and/or physical work capacity, said food composition including colostrum. In a preferred aspect there is provided a food composition for use in changing the body composition and/or physical factors maintained therein following fractionation of the colostrum. The food composition may additionally include casein. Preferably the casein is colostrum-derived and is maintained in the colostrum fraction following processing of the colostrum.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for the processing of conditional access television signals that includes an input interface for receiving encrypted television signals and an output interface for output of decrypted television signals. The semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with some functionality restricted in some way by preventing one or more hardware circuit elements from operating, such as an MPEG decoder, display engine, IO ports or main CPU. To enable the functionality, a subscriber must pay for a service and then receives an encrypted message broadcast to the semiconductor integrated circuit that is decrypted and instructs functionality to be turned on or off.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a multimedia control and distribution architecture is provided. A media server/controller generates a plurality of graphics signals, each graphics signal including a separate user interface to be displayed on a particular device, such as a touch screen unit. A universal extender (UVX) coupled to the media server/controller converts and extends the graphics signals for transmission on a plurality of universal transmission pathways. Each of the plurality of devices receives a graphic signal passed thereto, displays graphics embodied in the graphics signals, and accept user input in response to the graphics signal. For example, the one or more touch screen units may accept a user touch and pass a location of the user touch back on a universal transmission pathway to the UVX, for transmission to the media server/controller. The media server/controller generates control commands and provides the control commands.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit for the processing of conditional access television signals that includes an input interface for receiving encrypted television signals and an output interface for output of decrypted television signals. The semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with some functionality restricted in some way by preventing one or more hardware circuit elements from operating, such as an MPEG decoder, display engine, IO ports or main CPU. To enable the functionality, a subscriber must pay for a service and then receives an encrypted message broadcast to the semiconductor integrated circuit that is decrypted and instructs functionality to be turned on or off.

Abstract: A filter is arranged to selectively block or allow a data access command from an initiator according to whether the initiator is secure or insecure and whether a data source or destination being accessed is privileged or unprivileged. The data access command contains an identification of the initiator from which the data access command originated and an identification of the data source or destination being accessed. The security filter compares the initiator identification and data source or destination identification contained within the data access command with a list of those initiators defined as secure and a list of those data sources or destinations which are defined as unprivileged. The filter then blocks or allows the data access command signal according to a set of rules.

Abstract: A memory stores data in an encrypted form. A modifiable register stores a memory address, a0, defining a boundary separating the memory into two regions. The lower region stores data encrypted using a key B, and the upper region stores data encrypted using a different key A. Data stored on the boundary address is encrypted using key A. Accordingly, when data is read from a memory address a, key A is used to decrypt the data if a?a0, and key B is used if a<a0. However, when data is written to a memory address a, then key A is used to encrypt the data if a?a0+1, key B is used if a<a0+1. When data is written to the boundary address, a0, the position of the boundary is caused to increase by one unit.

Abstract: A data monitoring and analysis system suitable for performing real-time monitoring of vehicle information systems installed aboard a passenger vehicle fleet and methods for manufacturing and using same. The data monitoring and analysis system includes a loadscript system for establishing a communication channel with each vehicle information system. Continuously receiving performance data accumulated by the vehicle information systems, the loadscript system validates and parses the performance data and provides the resultant performance data to a database system for further analysis. The database system enables fleet operators to generate reports with consolidated performance data for the vehicle fleet, to stratify the performance data based upon one or more variables, and/or to drill down into subsets of the performance data to understand root causes underlying system performance.

Abstract: An integrated circuit restricts use of a data item and includes a data memory storing the data item; a value memory storing a value; a signature input that receives a signature derived from data in a data item field and a value in a value field, the signature being in a coded form; a decoding circuit that decodes the signature and outputs information representing the data in the data item field and the value in the value field; and a comparison circuit that receives the decoding circuit output, determines whether the information representing the data from the data item field corresponds to the stored data item and whether the information representing the value from the value field corresponds to the value stored in the value memory, and outputs a comparison signal according to the determinations. The circuit restricts the use of the data item according to the comparison signal.

Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a processor for executing application code from a memory and a verifier processor arranged to receive the application code via the same internal bus as the processor. The verifier processor performs a verification function to check that the application code is authentic. The verifier processor runs autonomously and cannot be spoofed as it receives the application code via the same internal bus as the main processor. An additional instruction monitor checks the code instructions from the CPU and also impairs the operation of the circuit unless the address of code requested is in a given range. The code is in the form of a linked list and the range is derived as a linked list table during a first check.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber that includes an inner core having a concentration of at least one laser active material, the inner core being adapted to operate in a single mode manner; and an outer core disposed about the inner core having a concentration of at least one laser active material. The outer core being adapted to operate in a multimode manner, a cladding disposed about the outer core; and an outer cladding is disposed about the cladding adapted to substantially confine pump light within the cladding.

Abstract: A memory access system including a memory in which data is organized in pages, each page holding a sequence of data elements; means for receiving a requested address including a requested page address and a requested data element address; logic for accessing a current page from the memory using a current page address; logic for reading out data elements of the current page in the sequence in which they are held in memory; logic for comparing the requested page address with the current page address and for issuing a memory access request with the requested page address when they are not the same; and logic operable when the requested page address is the same as the current page address for comparing a requested data element address with the current address of a data element being read out and returning the data element when the requested data element address matches the current data element address.

Abstract: Retiming circuitry for retiming a data signal transmitted from a first environment under control of a first clock signal to a second environment under control of a second clock signal, said first and second clock signals having a known repeat relationship, the retiming circuitry comprising a plurality of delay elements for delaying said data signal; a plurality of inputs connected to said delay elements for receiving said data signal at respectfully different delays; selection means for selecting the data signal at one of said inputs based on said known repeat relationship; and an output for outputting said selected data signal.