Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is provided. Typically, the apparatus comprises opposing first and second electrodes respectively provided on first and second arms that are movable towards and away from one another; and drive circuitry for supplying electrical energy to the first and second electrodes, to cause an alternating electric field to be produced in the vicinity of the electrodes in use, and thereby cause dielectric heating of hair placed between the electrodes in use. Sensing circuitry may also be provided for sensing a change in coupling of energy from the alternating electric field to the hair during heating of the hair; and control circuitry for controlling the drive circuitry to vary the electrical energy supplied to the first and second electrodes in dependence upon the sensed change in coupling. A related method of manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is provided. Typically, the apparatus comprises opposing first and second electrodes respectively provided on first and second arms that are movable towards and away from one another; and drive circuitry for supplying electrical energy to the first and second electrodes, to cause an alternating electric field to be produced in the vicinity of the electrodes in use, and thereby cause dielectric heating of hair placed between the electrodes in use. Sensing circuitry may also be provided for sensing a change in coupling of energy from the alternating electric field to the hair during heating of the hair; and control circuitry for controlling the drive circuitry to vary the electrical energy supplied to the first and second electrodes in dependence upon the sensed change in coupling. A related method of manipulating the shape of hair using dielectric heating is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus manipulates the shape of hair using dielectric heating. Typically,the apparatus includes opposing first and second electrodes respectively provided on first and second arms that are movable towards and away from one another. Drive circuitry supplies electrical energy to the first and second electrodes, to cause an alternating electric field to be produced in the vicinity of the electrodes in use, and thereby cause dielectric heating of hair placed between the electrodes in use. Sensing circuitry senses a change in coupling of energy from the alternating electric field to the hair during heating of the hair. Control circuitry controls the drive circuitry to vary the electrical energy supplied to the first and second electrodes in dependence upon the sensed change in coupling. A related method manipulates the shape of hair using dielectric heating.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for conducting a chemical or biochemical reaction, such as a polymerase chain reaction wherein at least one wall of said vessel comprises a metallic layer and an inner non-metallic layer. Reaction systems comprising combinations of vessels of the invention and apparatus for heating them, as well as particular reactions vessels are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for conducting a chemical or biochemical reaction, such as a polymerase chain reaction wherein electrically conducting polymer is arranged to act as a heating element. The profile of the electrically conductive polymer differs in different regions of the vessel so as to control thermal gradients. The profile of the electrically conductive polymer may be arranged to either increase or reduce the thermal gradient. Reaction systems comprising combinations of vessels of the invention and apparatus for heating them, as well as particular reactions vessels are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A reaction vessel for conducting a chemical or biochemical reaction, such as a polymerase chain reaction wherein at least one wall of said vessel comprises a metallic layer and an inner non-metallic layer. Reaction systems comprising combinations of vessels of the invention and apparatus for heating them, as well as particular reactions vessels are also described and claimed.

Abstract: To facilitate acquisition of lock in a multiple sub-channel carrier scheme, a plurality of time-continuous pilots (102) on known sub-channels are made available to an addressed unit across the frequency spectrum. The addressed unit is then able to select one of these pilots for training purposes and specifically for frequency and phase acquisition (106). The selection is based, typically, on the pilot with either the best signal to noise ratio or the first pilot to satisfy the minimum quality requirements for effective training. Discontinuous carriers, of which there can be several, are then used to identify a symbol boundary at the addressed unit. Once acquisition has been established, the pilots can, if desired, be released to carry low-bit rate traffic, although it is preferable to retain pilot tones for use within the system.

Abstract: A subscriber's telephone installation comprises a plurality of telephone sets coupled in parallel to a subscriber loop so as to provide a voice facility, and a data modern coupled to the subscriber loop so as to provide data facilities at a frequency above that employed for said voice facility. Some or preferably all telephone sets are provided with a respective filter arrangement incorporating series connected inductive and parallel connected capacitive elements for rejecting selected frequencies from the telephone set. The filter also incorporates a switch responsive to current drawn from the line for selectively enabling and disabling the filter arrangement when the telephone set is respectively in its off-hook condition or in its on-hook condition.

Abstract: A splitter separates telephony traffic (POTS) from digital subscriber line (ADSL) traffic occupying a higher frequency band. The splitter comprises a low-pass filter for passing the telephony traffic, the low-pass filter being operable to vary its filtering response between a first low-pass response for use during telephony speech traffic, and a second, more restrictive, low-pass response for use during at least part of the time that telephony signalling traffic is present. During speech traffic a filter is used which provides a good impedance match with a telephony terminal or linecard so as to minimize detrimental effects on sidetone and echo performance which may impair a user's speech quality. The filter response can be varied according to a detected property of the telephony traffic, such as amplitude or rate of change of amplitude of the traffic.

Abstract: To facilitate the use of relatively high frequency data transmission services over a wireline communication resource originally deployed to support low frequency voice band services, an assessment of the wireline communication resource (50-52) is based on attenuation of high frequency test signals, of known original level, that are generated (18) injected into the wireline communication resource from a test point (12). A detector (60) at a potential point of service, e.g. at a customers' premises (14), detects an attenuated level of the test signals and generates a control signal (70, 82), such as a drive current, indicative of the attenuation caused by the wireline communication resource (50-52). The control signal (70, 82) is then indirectly communicated back to the test point (12) in a coded form, and preferably within a voice band transmission.

Abstract: To avoid spurious energy radiation from a wireline communication resource (42-44) supporting data over voice, such as in xDSL, modems (40, 46) supporting a multi-carrier transmission scheme undertake a line balance assessment (136-138) for each sub-channel carrier within the system. Specifically, an addressed modem (40) measures, for example, the signal to noise ratio of a differential transmission mode and a common transmission mode to provide the balance assessment (138). More particularly, a receive chain in the addressed modem is selectively switched (84) to receive the differential mode as appearing across the terminals of an isolation transformer (66) or the common mode (as seen with respect to ground) from a center tap (88) in a line-side winding (70) of the isolation transformer (66). Any sub-channel carrier that fails to provide a predetermined level of balance (140) is de-selected (141) by the modem and not used for traffic.