Abstract: A method of providing high density expansion of a USB network, the method comprising: attaching a plurality of USB hubs to adjacent slots in a PXI instrumentation chassis; configuring one of the USB hubs as a primary USB Hub; connecting an upstream port of the primary USB Hub to a USB network; configuring a first downstream port of the primary USB Hub to communicate across a first PXI Local Bus to a first adjacent USB Hub of the USB Hubs other than the primary USB Hub, the first adjacent USB Hub being adjacent to the primary USB Hub; configuring a plurality of other downstream ports of the primary USB Hub to provide expansion of the primary USB Hub; connecting an upstream port of the first adjacent USB Hub to the first PXI Local Bus, wherein the first PXI Local Bus is in the direction of the primary USB Hub; configuring a first downstream port of the first adjacent USB Hub to communicate across a second PXI Local Bus to a second adjacent USB Hub of the USB Hubs other than the primary USB Hub, the second adjac

Abstract: A method of determining the downstream propagation time of signals from a USB Host Controller across one or more USB cables and one or more USB Hubs to a SuperSpeed USB device, including locking a clock of the SuperSpeed USB device to information that includes a first timestamp, transmitting a plurality of signals to the USB Host Controller, each of the signals containing a second timestamp indicative of a local time of the SuperSpeed USB device when the respective signal was generated by the SuperSpeed device; the USB Host Controller creating a third timestamp indicative of a time of reception from the SuperSpeed USB device; determining a time period from one or more respective time differences between corresponding second and third timestamps, the time period being indicative of a sum of a downstream propagation time and an upstream propagation time; and determining the downstream propagation time from the time period.

Abstract: A method of providing a synchronisation channel to a SuperSpeed USB device is provided. The method including a SuperSpeed communication channel connection to the SuperSpeed USB device with a USB cable that has USB 2.0 D+ and D? data signalling lines disabled or disconnected at an upstream connection point; multiplexing synchronization information onto the D+/D? data signalling lines at the upstream connection point; and demultiplexing the synchronization information from the D+/D? signalling lines at a downstream connection point of the cable; whereby the synchronisation channel is maintained across the D+/D? data signalling lines.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and system for installing components for an offshore wind turbine assembly independent of cranes and derricks. The components are stored in an offshore structure, such as a Spar. After transporting the offshore structure horizontally to a site, the structure can be uprighted to a vertical orientation. A variable ballast component coupled to a tower of the wind turbine assembly can reciprocally retract the tower into the offshore structure to lower the tower, and extend the tower away from the offshore structure to raise the tower until the full quantity of blades are assembled to a turbine coupled to the tower. When the blades are stored in a peripheral fashion around the tower, the method and system provides for automatic rotational indexing of the tower as the tower and turbine retract and extend, so the turbine is progressively aligned with each blade to be installed.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronising a first device and at least one second device, each having a local oscillator and a microcontroller, and the second device being in data communication with the first device via a communication bus. The method comprises the first device transmitting a plurality of signals to the second device, the second device using the plurality of signals to measure the frequency of its local oscillator, the first device transmitting a signal to the second device indicative of a required frequency to be synchronised to, and the second device employing its microcontroller to configure itself to generate a local clock signal with the required frequency using the frequency of its local oscillator.

Abstract: A seal (1) includes a first component (7) and second component (9), the first component including a first material having a high thermal and oxidation and wear resistance, and the second component (9) including a second material that is different from the first material and has a high spring load maintenance. The seal (1) is applied to a combustion chamber for a gas turbine, where the first component (7) extends between the casing wall of the combustion chamber and adjacent liner segments (4). The spring load of the second component (9) provides a seal also in the case of vibrations in a combustion chamber. The lifetime of the seal (1) is increased due to the individual materials, which are optimally chosen for the functions of high thermal and wear resistance and spring load maintenance respectively. The seal is further applied to the sealing between adjacent stationary blade platforms in gas turbines.

Abstract: A method is described for packing variable-length entropy coded data into a fixed rate data stream along with resolution enhancement data, the method providing tightly constrained propagation of transmission channel errors and graceful degradation of signal resolution as entropy-coded data rate increases. An application to a multiband ADPCM audio codec is also described.

Abstract: A device designed to be plugged directly into a household power supply socket comprising a sensor for controlling an electrical device, the sensor having selectable sensing orientation and being one of a motion detector, an infrared detector, a photodetector or a sound detector, whereby the sensor generates a control signal to the electrical device, the electrical device being one of a light bulb, a mobile telephone, a security device such as a sound or burglar alarm, or a monitoring device such as a surveillance camera, upon detection of a change in an environment, e.g. movement, ambient light, sound, etc.

Abstract: A time delay beamformer comprises input channels, which have associated samplers arranged to sample inputs signal carried upon the input channels. The samplers sample the input channels at a number of points in time to produce a number of sampled signals. An adaptive processor receives each of the input signals and each of the sampled signals, and generates processed signals therefrom. Time delay devices introduce a steering time delay to the processed signals and a summer generates a beamformed output signal the delayed processed signals.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and computer system for management of materials on a construction site. In one embodiment, at least one cost scenario is defined for moving at least one material with a vehicle pool. A status of a project which uses the material is then determined. A report is generated which identifies a vehicle of the vehicle pool and defines a load of the material which is to be moved by the vehicle from a first location to a second location.

Abstract: A synchronization apparatus, comprising: a USB device having a USB microcontroller, circuitry for observing USB traffic, and circuitry for decoding from a USB data stream a periodic data structure (such as a clock carrier signal) containing information about a distributed clock frequency and phase and outputting a decoded carrier signal; and circuitry for receiving the decoded carrier signal, for generating a software interrupt upon receipt of a predefined data packet (such as a SOF packet) and for passing the software interrupt to the USB microcontroller; wherein the USB microcontroller is configured to respond to the software interrupt (such as with an interrupt service routine provided therein) by generating an output signal adapted to be used as a synchronization reference signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the phase and frequency of the local clock of a USB device, the apparatus comprising circuitry for observing USB traffic and decoding from the USB traffic a periodic data structure containing information about the frequency and phase of a distributed clock frequency, and phase and circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating from at least the periodic data structure a local clock signal locked in both frequency and phase to the periodic data structure. The circuitry for receiving the periodic data structure and generating the local clock signal can generate the local clock signal with a frequency that is a non-integral multiple of a frequency of the periodic data structure.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing a synchronized multichannel universal serial bus, the method in one aspect comprising supplementing the signal channels in the USB specification to provide synchronization information from an external source, and in another aspect comprising observing USB traffic and locking a local clock signal of a USB device to a periodic signal contained in USB data traffic, wherein the locking is in respect of phase and/or frequency.

Abstract: In a computer implemented method for site development planning, a development mix is automatically determined for developing a site. The development mix is based upon a location of the site and regulatory information regarding the site location. An earthworks parameter for the site is automatically estimated from the development mix. A site build phase parameter is automatically determined from the development mix. One or more of the development mix, site earthworks parameter, and site build phase parameter are then provided as a site development planning output.

Abstract: A soluble unit dose of laundry detergent which comprises: a) a thin walled hard capsule, having a wall thickness between 0.07 and 0.3 mm and, c) within the thin walled hard capsule a detergent composition comprising at least 1 g of surfactant, which makes up at least 45% wt of the detergent composition. wherein the solubility of the capsule and the detergent composition is such that it will reach a level of 90% of eventually dissolved electrolytes in stirred demineralised water at 25° C. in less than 35 seconds. By choice of a capsule with this wall thickness the solubility is ensured while pressure caking of the contents is resisted to minimise overall dissolution time.

Abstract: A safety construction helmet is provided with an attachment which extends over the top of the helmet and provides sun protection.

Abstract: An adaptor (10) including a sensor (18), a gimbal housing (12) having a male connector (14) at one end and an female connector (16) at another end, wherein the male connector (14) is configured to connect with an electrical socket and the female connector (16) is configured to connect with an electrical device, and a circuit for selectively controlling the electrical device in response to the sensor (18). The gimbal housing (12) is adapted to rotate around the male connector (14) about a first axis and support the sensor (18) for independent rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis so that the sensor (18) can be moved to a selectable sensing orientation.

Abstract: Making a pizza crust includes forming a mass of dough into a substantially flattened shape to define an inner crust bordered by an outer crust extending around the inner crust. The outer crust is divided into a plurality of segments without cutting the inner crust by pressing a plurality of cutting fins of a cutting ring through the outer crust to form the plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side facing the inner crust, and a second side facing opposite the inner crust. Each of the plurality of segments is turned such that the second end is moved away from the inner crust.

Abstract: A pizza includes a dough member and at least one topping disposed on the dough member. The dough member defines a substantially flattened shape and includes a central portion and a border portion. The central portion defines a perimeter. The border portion extends about the perimeter of the central portion. The border portion of the dough member is divided into a plurality of dough segments, each dough segment being turned relative to the perimeter of the central portion.

Abstract: A pizza includes a substantially flattened dough member and a plurality of self-contained topping portions. The dough member defines a top surface and the plurality of self-contained topping portions are maintained on the top surface of the dough member. In particular, each of the plurality of self-contained topping portions includes a topping selection and is surrounded by an exposed portion of the top surface of the dough member. Furthermore, the top surface of the dough member is imprinted with a first pattern extending between each of the plurality of self-contained topping portions and a second pattern extending about the plurality of self-contained topping portions.