Abstract: A barge-type wind turbine platform in combination with a heel tank damper includes a barge-type wind turbine platform having a keystone, two pairs of bottom beams, each including two bottom beams connected to opposite sides of the keystone, wherein the combined pairs of bottom beams define a foundation. A U-shaped ballast conduit is mounted or formed within each of the pairs of bottom beams. Each ballast conduit has ballast water therein, the ballast water extending from an outwardly extending portion of each bottom beam of each pair of bottom beams, such that a volume of air is defined between a surface of the ballast water in each outwardly extending portion and an outwardly facing wall of each outwardly extending portion, and an internal damping element is provided within each ballast conduit. A heel tank damper is defined by the ballast conduits and their respective internal damping elements.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a shank defining a longitudinal axis and a cutting edge extending radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis. The cutting edge is configured to remove material from a workpiece along a cutting path during a cutting operation. The drill bit further includes a plurality of scoring elements positioned within the cutting path and configured to contact the workpiece before the cutting edge during the cutting operation.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of images for display of a 3D scene from different viewpoints comprises generating a model of the scene using a homogenous coordinate system which uses first, second and third orthogonal axes and a homogeneity value. A first display image is obtained from a first viewpoint and one or more further display images are obtained by updating the a coordinate value of the first display image using the displacement value and the homogeneity value. The use of the homogeneity value reduces the complexity of the calculations required to obtain the further images by post processing.

Abstract: In a computer communications system wherein a number of user stations are connected via a data network to a remote server hosting a chat-space where text messages may be exchanged, a parsing subsystem is provided in at least some of the user stations. The parsing subsystem identifys keywords in the exchange text messages and, using these as search terms sent to a further server hosting a search engine, obtains and makes available to the user auxiliary sources of data which may be of interest. In an alternative embodiment, the parser subsystem is held by the chatspace server and transmits the data from, or identifying, the auxiliary sources of data to the users on-line.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a stereoscopic image comprises a display and a user control for controlling a stereoscopic parameter of the image. The control may be a single control for example a knob and may control more than one parameter. Alternatively there may be two controls each controlling a single parameter. The apparatus may further comprise a lenticular screen overlying the display for producing a stereoscopic image that is autostereoscopic.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for controlling pixel addressing of a pixel display device to drive the display device as an N view autostereoscopic display. A graphics controller (40) generates multiple views of a scene from different viewpoints. The graphics controller (40) selectively accesses a combined image memory buffer (43), so that portions of each view are written by the graphics controller (40) to allocated areas of the combined image memory buffer (43). A display (54) is driven according to the data in the combined memory buffer. This arrangement reduced data transfer volume for the generation of image data which comprises interleaved portions from individual images.

Abstract: A method of generating a plurality of images for display of a 3D scene from different viewpoints comprises generating a model of the scene using a homogenous coordinate system which uses first, second and third orthogonal axes and a homogeneity value. A first display image is obtained from a first viewpoint and one or more further display images are obtained by updating the a coordinate value of the first display image using the displacement value and the homogeneity value. The use of the homogeneity value reduces the complexity of the calculations required to obtain the further images by post processing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for controlling a computer-generated animation suite (32), where the suite generates sequences of image frames from stored libraries of image components and component motion parameters. An interface (42) includes a store (44) of function specifications each of which, when called and applied to the animation suite, initiates one or a predetermined sequence of image component movements. A rule-based processor (10) comprises means for modelling an asynchronous logic circuit as a plurality of circuit elements the functions of which are governed by a stored set (14,22) of rules each defining a response to a given condition with the processor generating a response when the associated condition is satisfied. Predetermined conjunctions of image frame features are specified as the condition portion of some of the rules, and the calling of each of the interface function specifications is the response portion of a respective rule.

Abstract: The speech of a group of virtual characters is modelled using a directed graph or audio web, where each utterance is a node (A1-A7, B1-B5) in the web having links from it to each possible utterance that can be made in reply at any point in the course of the interaction. The choice of the next node (conversation segment) is dependent on attributes of the character and/or the virtual environment in which the conversation is taking place. These attributes may be fixed, modified by system function calls available at each node, or modified in response to user input.

Abstract: A device for testing continuity and current leakage at leads of an electronic circuit such as an integrated circuit has a contact structure (16) having test terminals (T1-T28) for contacting the leads. A first and a second of the leads are power supply leads respectively contactable with a first and a second of the test terminals (T14 and T28 or T26). Continuity/leakage detection is done with one or more corresponding detection circuits (D1-D28). Each detection circuit has a channel along which both continuity and leakage are tested. A supply switching circuit (26) appropriately switches voltages between values suitable for continuity testing and values suitable for leakage testing.

Abstract: A control valve having a through flow path with a closure member providing a substantially unhindered flow through the valve when in open position but closing the path substantially at right angles to the axis of flow when in closed position. A stem controls the unit closure member and is located at an acute angle to the flow path and also to the closure position of the closure member in such a manner that a multiplication of the force applied is provided by means of its geometric relation. The casing in which the closure member is located is in two parts and separable in such a way that the closure member may be easily removed and replaced by a closure member of a different shape.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing heat exchange panels each comprising metal tubes of finite length welded to a metal sheet except at the end portions of the tubes which are secured to headers in fluid-tight relation thereto, in which methods the metal sheet, having end edges and side edges, is formed into a hollow cylinder with the end edges adjacent each other and metal tubing is welded to the cylinder in a spiral path. Welding is interrupted adjacent the end edges and the tubing is cut above the end edges to provide tubes welded to the cylinder except at end portions of the tubes. The end portions of the tubes, after the cylinder-tube combination is formed to the desired shape, e.g., flat, are secured to the headers. If tubes parallel to the side edges of the sheet are desired, the hollow cylinder is formed with adjacent portions of the side edges in axially offset relation prior to welding the tubing to the cylinder.

Abstract: Integrated circuit having a guard ring Schottky barrier diode therein in which first and second layers of metallization are provided overlying the Schottky barrier diode which are brought into intimate contact with the interconnect surface to establish intimate contact between the surface of the semiconductor body and the metallization.