Abstract:
A valve unit for regulating the flow of working fluid between a working chamber of a fluid working machine and both a first working fluid line and second working fluid line, the valve unit comprising: a first valve comprising a first valve member and one or more cooperating first valve seats, a second valve comprising a second valve member and one or more cooperating second valve seats, an actuator coupled to both the first and second valve members through which a force may be applied to urge the first valve member open or closed and to urge the second valve member open or closed, a coupling between the actuator and the first valve member, wherein the coupling between the actuator and the first valve member comprises a connector which extends at least partially through the second valve member.
Abstract:
Data concerning the strength of signals received from electromagnetic signal sources within a building is obtained at a plurality of points. Instead of storing the raw data for use in positioning, the data for each electromagnetic signal source is fitted to a function of received signal strength with distance from the electromagnetic signal source. This data is then used to estimate the position of a user device. The advantage of the invention is that the amount of data which requires to be stored is significantly reduced.
Abstract:
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis apparatus includes an electrophoresis zone having four edges defined by a plurality of electrodes. A pair of opposed edges are defined by groups of discrete electrodes. Discrete electrodes within each group are electrically isolated from each other while the other pair of opposed edges are used to generate an electrical field. As a result, the electrical field is less distorted than would be the case if each edge was defined by a single elongate electrode. The apparatus can be provided as a cassette with electrodes configured to guide gas generated during electrolysis out of the cassette through apertures, to reduce the build up of combustible gases.
Abstract:
An electrical device includes a memory storing a value indicative the remaining available rated capacity of one or more batteries. The stored value is changed in use to reflect reducing capacity. The initial stored value is chosen so that there is a very high (e.g. > 99.9 %) confidence that the one or more batteries will provide at least the capacity indicated by the initial stored value. This reduces the chance of failure during emergency procedures. The one or more batteries may be integral to the electrical device. An override facility is provided.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a video laryngoscope having a body, an insertion section extending from the body generally parallel to a median plane of the laryngoscope extending through the body, and a display screen assembly extending from the body generally perpendicular to the median plane, the body comprising a grip portion intermediate the display screen assembly and the insertion section. The display screen assembly, comprising a display screen, extends laterally from the body and the inner edge of the display screen falls within the lateral extent of the body. The grip portion is also of a minimum size to allow an adult to grip the laryngoscope, the hand abutting the screen assembly. Thus, the laryngoscope is of a minimum overall size, the screen is positioned as close as possible to the line of sight of a user directly viewing the distal end of the insertion section, during a medical procedure, facilitating the user alternating between direct and indirect viewing, whereas the screen does not prevent the user from manipulating the laryngoscope by applying thumb pressure to the body. The laryngoscope may optionally be provided with thumb operable controls on the body or the screen. The screen may be adjustable about an axis, and, by virtue of the configuration and size of the laryngoscope, adjustment may be effected by the user's thumb, without the need to adjust the grip of the remaining digits.
Abstract:
Properties of data transmission are measured in a telecommunications network (2) comprising an access network segment (6) and a core network segment (4). A packet switched network endpoint device (10) in communication with the access network segment passively monitors data throughput between the telecommunication network and the endpoint device and conducts active tests of data transmission latency and data transmission loss by exchanging active test data packets with an active test server (8). Test result data is transmitted to the active test server in active test data packets (106, 118), avoiding additional network traffic. Active tests are conducted from the application layer. The resulting metrics accurately represent the experience of users of the endpoint devices.
Abstract:
A fluid working machine comprises a working chamber of cyclically varying volume, a high pressure manifold, and an actuated high pressure valve for regulating the flow of fluid between the working chamber and the high pressure manifold. The actuated high pressure valve comprises a moveable valve member, operable between a closed position and at least one open position. A controllable opening mechanism provides an active urging force to urge the moveable valve member from the said closed position towards at least one said open position, the volume of the working chamber varying between a maximum volume and a minimum volume. The controllable opening mechanism provides the active urging force more than once while the volume of the working chamber is intermediate the maximum of chamber volume and the minimum of chamber volume.
Abstract:
A fuel monitoring device for a vehicle having one or more fuel tank sensors, the fuel monitoring device comprising a control module in communication with the or each fuel tank sensor, wherein the control module is operable to receive data from the or each fuel tank sensor and operable to output fuel level related data toa mobile communications system transmitter for transmission to an end user. The fuel monitoring device may be installed covertly within a vehicle and communicate with the vehicle's fuel tank sensor and, optionally, further sensors. The fuel monitoring device facilitates the transmission of information to an end user allowing the end user to identify occurrences of fuel theft from a remote location and/or the fuel monitoring device is operable to generate an alarm condition in or in the proximity of the vehicle. Data may additionally be audited to identify opportunities to improve operating efficiency of a vehicle, or a fleet of vehicles, or to provide early warning of possible vehicle faults and/or to identify fuel theft.
Abstract:
Authentication apparatus (1, 100) and methods which authenticate an item (4, 110) responsive to the detection that a portion of the item has one or more predetermined characteristics, the said predetermined characteristics comprising either or both the thickness of the said portion of the item, and the thickness of one or more layers within the said portion of the item, determined by optically-based thickness measuring apparatus (6, 102-108). The item may be a product and the portion of the item may be a sheet of packaging material. The item may be a security document and the portion of the item may be a sheet of security document substrate.
Abstract:
A method of assigning an identifier to a mention of an entity in a document carried out by computing apparatus including a display and one or more user operable input devices. A plurality of candidate identifiers are received from a term identification module in respect of a mention of an entity in a document, each candidate identifier being a reference to an entity in connection with which entity property data is stored in one or more entity databases. A list is displayed in a first region of the display, the list having a plurality of user-selectable entries, each entry in the list concerning the entity referred to by one of the said plurality of candidate identifiers, each entry comprising properties of the respective entity. At least one of the said properties is retrieved from the said one or more entity databases. In response to the selection by a user of an entry in the list, additional properties of the entity which the selected entry concerns are displayed in a second region of the display, the additional properties being retrieved at least in part from the one or more said databases. Responsive to an identifier assignment instruction received from a user in connection with a selected entity which a list entry concerns, an identifier of the selected entity is assigned as identifier of the mention of the entity. Filters are provided to enable a user to restrict the entities in connection with which a list entry is provided to those which fulfil user specified criteria. The properties which are displayed in the first and second region of the display are customisable for different domains and applications.