Abstract: A wall bracket for a loudspeaker or the like, particularly for use in the home theatre context, and comprising a wall plate (20) arranged for attachment to a wall, the plate having at least a pair of raised, laterally outward projecting flanges (21a, 21b); a bracket base arranged for engaging with the flanges and being thereby held to the wall plate, the bracket base having two substantially similar opposing parts (30, 40) each incorporating a substantially hemispherical socket (34); and a bracket mount (50) arranged for attachment to the loudspeaker etc, the bracket mount incorporating a ball member (51) adapted to be gripped between the bracket base sockets in a variety of configurations.

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 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: A wavelength control system comprising a wavelength tunable laser, a temperature sensing mechanism and a bias controller responsive to the sensed temperature whereby emission wavelength or the wavelength tunable laser is maintained substantially constant by adjusting the bias applied to the wavelength tunable laser accordingly with temperature.

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: 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: 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.

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 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 flexible pipe and a method of manufacturing same according to which the pipe is formed by at least one layer, and an insert disposed in the layer and adapted to limit the strain on the layer when the pipe collapses.

Abstract: A privileged data table maintains a list of regions of a memory which contain privileged data. When a data access operation is attempted, a privilege rule enforcer compares the address of the memory being accessed to the list of privileged regions. If the memory address falls within a privileged region, then the memory access operation is blocked unless the instruction accessing the memory has been securely authorized by a code verifier. A privileged instruction table is provided to maintain a list of instructions stored in an instruction list that have been verified. When an instruction is fetched from the instruction list, an instruction privilege identifier compares the instruction with the list of verified instructions, and generates a signal indicating the privilege status of the instruction. Instructions are blocked according to the privilege signal. Only privileged instructions are allowed to modify the privileged data table and the privileged instruction table.

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: A cooking appliance having a hob surface is provided with a hob heating element provided in the top surface of a base unit. The base unit is arranged to be capable of being raised above the level of the hob surface in order to expose a further heating element provided in the bottom surface of the base unit whereby to permit food to be cooked with heat from above or below. The heating elements may be of gas or electrical.

Abstract: A binding apparatus for binding pads of perforated sheets with wire binding elements is described. The apparatus has means for supplying a predetermined length of binding element to an insertion station, means for conveying a perforated pad having the binding element inserted through the perforations to a binding station and a binding device at the binding station for closing the binding element to bind the pad. The insertion station includes upper and lower vertically spaced retainer members and a front stop for holding the binding element in a horizontal orientation with the mouth facing upwards. The binding element is supported at the binding station in the same orientation by two horizontally spaced, vertically extending plates with the pad handing down between the plates. Two closing members are provided, one comprising a drive member and a pressure member which is replaceable with other differently sized pressure members to accommodate differently sized binding elements.

Abstract: A process of dyeing natural or synthetic polyamide fibres in an aqueous exhaustion dyebath comprising an anionic dyestuff, comprising the steps of1. immersing the fibres to be dyed in the aqueous dyebath which has a temperature of from 20.degree.-50.degree. C. and a pH of 7-11 (7-8.5 when the polyamide is wool); and2. raising the temperature to 110.degree. C. maximum and maintaining it there until exhaustion is substantially complete;there being added to the dyebath, either prior to the commencement of temperature raising or after an alkaline migration period at the boil, an ester of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.3 hydroxycarboxylic acid with a C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 glycol and up to 30% by weight of the ester of a tertiary amine which is essentially non-volatile under the process conditions.

Abstract: An electronic bonding device provides a seal for containers and equipment and allows the status of the seal to be remotely monitored. The device has a seal body housing sensing means and communication means, and sealing means for affixing the device to an item to be bonded. The sealing means comprises a line providing, between terminal end portions, a circuit having a detectible characteristic. In one embodiment, the circuit is an optical fiber light transmission circuit. Alternatively, the circuit may be an electrical circuit. A change in the circuit characteristic, e.g., a break in the continuity (optical or electrical), is sensed by the sensor and transmitted to a remote location by a transmitter, to indicate that tampering with the item has occurred. The line is provided with a protective sheath. In one embodiment, the sheath is a relatively flexible adhesive tape strip. In other embodiments, the sheath is a relatively rigid or flexible shackle member.

Abstract: Chemical analysis apparatus such as a spectrophotometer, having a carbon rod or other non-flame atomizer which is adapted to be heated by electrical resistance heating. The atomizer is included in a heater circuit, and a particular relationship exists between the electrical resistance of the atomizer and the electrical resistance of the remainder of that circuit. That relationship is such that variations in the atomizer resistance as may occur over a period of use, do not substantially affect power dissipation in the atomizer during heating. Ideally, the two resistance values are equal, but variations from the ideal are satisfactory in practice. A feed-back circuit is arranged to maintain a substantially constant voltage across the heater circuit, and that is achieved by comparing the applied voltage with a reference voltage and modifying the applied voltage as necessary to maintain a predetermined relationship between the two.