Abstract: A laser Doppler velocimeter is formed using erbium-doped fiber as the lasing medium. The fiber is diode-pumped. By properly modulating the lasing in the fiber, pulses of radiation may be generated. A telescope acts as the transmission device to focus the radiation at a specified point, and may also act as the receiving system for reflected radiation. The portion of the reflected radiation collected by the receiving system is analyzed to determine the Doppler shift caused by aerosols or objects at the focal point of the telescope.

Abstract: A system and method for memory mapping in a multiple video processor (multi VPU) system is described. In various embodiments, rendering tasks are shared among multiple VPUs in parallel to provide improved performance and capability with minimal increased cost. In various embodiments, multiple VPUs in a system access each other's local memories to facilitate cooperative video processing. In one embodiment, each VPU in the system has the local memories of each other VPU mapped to its own graphics aperture relocation table (GART) table to facilitate access via a virtual addressing scheme. Each VPU uses the same virtual addresses for this mapping to other VPU local memories. This allows the driver to send exactly the same write commands to each VPU, including the numeric value of the destination address for operations such as writing rendered data. Thus, unique addresses need not be generated for each VPU.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for and an apparatus using various factors including system performance feedback data to optimize the time suggested to attempt retry of a request. Among the factors used there is included present system performance, type of request, status of pending action, current number of retries pending, a predefined fixed interval, a pseudo random interval, a random interval, past history of retry requests, heuristically determined interval, and an interval based upon hang detection.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for use in a computer system in which one or more multiprocessor nodes comprise the computer system. The methods and apparatus provide for configurable allocation of a memory in a node memory controller. In a single node implementation of the computer system, substantially all of the memory is allocated to a snoop directory used to store directory entries for cache lines used by processors in the node. In computer system implementations having more than one node, the amount of the memory allocated to the snoop directory and the amount of the memory allocated to a remote memory directory is controlled respondent to predetermined sizes respondent to the number of nodes in the computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for graphics processing using state and shader management includes at least one state and shader cache coupled to a compiler for compiling a hardware state and shader vector from an abstract state vector. Also included is an abstract state vector register containing the abstract state vector that is provided to the state and shader cache and the compiler. The state and shader cache receives the abstract state vector and determines whether a cache entry for that abstract state vector already exists. If the cache entry exists, the hardware state and shader vector is provided to hardware. If the entry does not exist, the state and shader cache provides a miss signal to the compiler, whereupon the compiler compiles the abstract state vector and generates a hardware state and shader vector. Thereupon the hardware state and shader vector is provided to the hardware.

Abstract: A method and system for determining three-axis attitude from line-of-sight (LOS) solutions for two or more GPS satellites uses intersections of null cone patterns and LOS vectors to the GPS satellites. In a preferred embodiment, a unified GPS-based sensor also provides navigation information.

Abstract: A method of generating in-quadrature signals is disclosed. The method comprises phase shifting a Doppler frequency-shifted signal; phase shifting a local oscillator signal; mixing the phase shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and the phase-shifted local oscillator signal generating thereby a signal which includes the phase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and a further phase-shifted local oscillator signal; and mixing the unphase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal and the unphase-shifted local oscillator signal generating thereby a signal which includes the unphase-shifted local oscillator signal and a further phase-shifted Doppler frequency-shifted signal. A method of determining the velocity of an object is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and program product are disclosed for use in a computer system in which one or more multiprocessor nodes comprise the computer system. The methods and apparatus provide for configurable allocation of a memory in a node memory controller. In a single node implementation of the computer system, substantially all of the memory is allocated to a snoop directory used to store directory entries for cache lines used by processors in the node. In computer system implementations having more than one node, the amount of the memory allocated to the snoop directory and the amount of the memory allocated to a remote memory directory is controlled respondent to predetermined sizes respondent to the number of nodes in the computer system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for and an apparatus using various factors including system performance feedback data to optimize the time suggested to attempt retry of a request. Among the factors used there is included present system performance, type of request, status of pending action, current number of retries pending, a predefined fixed interval, a pseudo random interval, a random interval, past history of retry requests, heuristically determined interval, and an interval based upon hang detection.

Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a row of fan blades disposed upstream from a row of stator vanes, and is powered by a core engine. The fan blades are serrated for mixing wakes therefrom to attenuate fan noise.

Abstract: A coil spring 10 having a plurality of windings 12, at least two of the windings 12 being hinged together.

Abstract: A hard pet biscuit-like product is made by heating briefly a mixture comprising pre-gelatinised starch, water and a plasticiser at a pressure of at least 5 MPa. The product is very hard and can contain volatile and heat labile components.

Abstract: A turbofan engine includes a row of fan blades disposed upstream from a row of stator vanes, and is powered by a core engine. The fan blades are serrated for mixing wakes therefrom to attenuate fan noise.

Abstract: A variable speed drive comprising two drives, an output drive wheel and an endless, extendible member that is driven by the drives and extends around and rotates the output drive wheel. The drives are operable to move the endless member around an endless path at a first speed at a first driving position and at a second speed at a second position. This causes local expansion or contraction of the endless member around the output drive wheel and so varies its speed.

Abstract: A method and system for determining three-axis attitude from line-of-sight (LOS) solutions for two or more GPS satellites uses intersections of null cone patterns and LOS vectors to the GPS satellites. In a preferred embodiment, a unified GPS-based sensor also provides navigation information.

Abstract: A variable speed drive comprising two drives, an output drive wheel and an endless, extendible member that is driven by the drives and extends around and rotates the output drive wheel. The drives are operable to move the endless member around an endless path at a first speed at a first driving position and at a second speed at a second position. This causes local expansion or contraction of the endless member around the output drive wheel and so varies its speed.

Abstract: A two-stage multi-spectral imaging system comprising a reflective objective and a reflective relay aligned on a common optical axis, the objective being arranged to form an intermediate image and the relay being arranged to deliver image-forming radiation emanating from the intermediate image to a focal plane, wherein the objective is formed by a large concave primary mirror which is apertured on-axis and a small secondary mirror generally disposed in the form of a “Cassegrain” objective, the relay is formed by a pair of confronting mirrors each being apertured on-axis to enable passage of radiation into and out of the relay, and the relay being positioned to provide space between the relay and the focal plane to accommodate waveband selective splitting optics if so desired.

Abstract: A data processing system, circuit arrangement, integrated circuit device, program product, and method selectively prefetch a non-cached target memory address for a branch instruction when the target memory address is in a predetermined portion of a memory address space, e.g., within a predetermined number of cache lines from a branch instruction being processed. By prefetching the non-cached target memory addresses for this subclass of branch instructions, the delays associated with retrieving the target memory addresses from higher order memory are minimized. Moreover, by limiting such prefetching to only this subclass of branch instructions, the frequency of retrieval of unneeded data into the cache is often reduced.

Abstract: A variable speed drive comprising two drives, an output drive wheel and an endless, extendible member that is driven by the drives and extends around and rotates the output drive wheel. The drives are operable to move the endless member around an endless path at a first speed at a first driving position and at a second speed at a second position. This causes local expansion or contraction of the endless member around the output drive wheel and so varies its speed.

Abstract: A switchable dual field of view objective system 20 comprises a front lens A and a rear lens C with an intermediate lens B switchable between in-use and out-of-use positions. Lens A is positively powered and lens C is negatively or positively powered but has little power in comparison to lens A. Lens C has two lens components 24, 25 of which component 24 is negatively powered and is located proximal to intermediate lens B. Lens B and component 24 are carried in common by a carrier 28 which is movable along the axis to provide distance focussing in both fields of view.