An apparatus (1) for determining a position of a disturbance to an optical fibre assembly (2) comprises a detector system (8) that receives concurrently, from the optical fibre system (2), a first digital optical signal having a first wavelength and a 5 second digital optical signal having a second wavelength. The apparatus (1) monitors a common parameter of the first and second signals over time and determines respective times at which a change occurs in said parameter in each signal, the change arising from a disturbance to the optical fibre assembly (2). The apparatus (1) uses the first and second times to determine a position of the 10 disturbance.
H04B 10/079 - Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems using an in-service signal using measurements of the data signal
G01M 11/00 - Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
H04L 41/0631 - Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
An apparatus (1) for determining a position of a disturbance to an optical fibre assembly (2) comprises two monitoring units (6, 8), each comprising a respective light detector (12a, 12b) and a respective clock (24a, 24b). The first monitoring unit (6) receives a first digital optical signal from the optical fibre assembly (2). The second monitoring unit (8) receives a second digital optical signal from the optical fibre assembly (2). The apparatus (1) monitors the state of polarisation of the first and second digital optical signals and determines respective times at which a change occurs in the state of polarisation of each signal, the change arising from a disturbance to the optical fibre assembly (2). The apparatus (1) uses said times to determine a position of the disturbance.
H04B 10/079 - Arrangements for monitoring or testing transmission systems; Arrangements for fault measurement of transmission systems using an in-service signal using measurements of the data signal
G01M 11/00 - Testing of optical apparatus; Testing structures by optical methods not otherwise provided for
H04L 41/0631 - Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
In a positioning system (100) for estimating the position of a mobile device (7), a processing system (9) receives external-range data, representative of a range between the mobile device and an external unit (2, 3, 4, 5), and acceleration data representative of acceleration of the mobile device due to its movement as it is carried by a person (6). The acceleration data is processed in a step-detection algorithm to determine step-distance data representative of a time series of step- data-based distances travelled by the mobile device, and step-distance data is processed to determine a step-data-based position estimate for the mobile device. A position estimate for the mobile device is determined by solving an optimisation problem comprising a first cost term based on distance to positions located at said range from the external unit, and a second cost term based on distance to the step- data-based position estimate or to positions located at a step-data-based distance from said step-data-based position estimate.
G01C 21/16 - Navigation; Navigational instruments not provided for in groups by using measurement of speed or acceleration executed aboard the object being navigated; Dead reckoning by integrating acceleration or speed, i.e. inertial navigation
G01C 22/00 - Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers or using pedometers
G01S 15/86 - Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
G01S 5/14 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
A method for determining proximity comprises sending a wireless signal from a first mobile tag (120a) of a plurality of mobile tags (120), the wireless signal communicating identification information associated with the first mobile tag (120a). The wireless signal is received at a second mobile tag (120b) of the plurality of mobile tags (120), and proximity data comprising the identification information is stored in a memory (127b) of the second mobile tag (120b). The proximity data is sent from the second mobile tag (120b) to a mobile communication device (110) using a first wireless protocol, is received at a mobile communication device (110), and is stored in a memory (117) of the mobile communication device (110). The proximity data is sent from the mobile communication device (110) to a server (130) using a second wireless protocol, and the proximity data is stored in a memory (137) of the server (130).
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
H04W 4/02 - Services making use of location information
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Yadav, Mukesh
Aksnes, Astrid
Hjelme, Dag Roar
Høvik, Jens
Abstract
An optical sensing apparatus (2, 102) is provided comprising: an input interface (14, 114) for receiving input light into the optical sensing apparatus (2, 102); an input waveguide (4, 104) and a reference waveguide (6, 106), both arranged to receive input light from the input interface (14, 114); a closed loop resonator (8, 108), wherein the input waveguide (4, 104) is optically coupled to the closed loop resonator (8, 108) at an input point (16) for introducing input light to the closed loop resonator (8, 108); a sample region (24, 124), adjacent the closed loop resonator (8, 108), for receiving a sample such that evanescent coupling can occur between light in the closed loop resonator (8, 108) and the sample; a drop-port waveguide (10, 110), optically coupled to the closed loop resonator (8, 108) at a drop point (20) for receiving dropped light from the closed loop resonator (8, 108); an output waveguide (12, 112); and an output interface (22, 122). The reference waveguide (6, 106) and the drop-port waveguide (10, 110) are arranged to direct interfering light through the output waveguide (12, 112) to produce an output signal at the output interface (22, 122).
G01N 21/39 - Investigating relative effect of material at wavelengths characteristic of specific elements or molecules, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry using tunable lasers
G01N 21/77 - Systems in which material is subjected to a chemical reaction, the progress or the result of the reaction being investigated by observing the effect on a chemical indicator
In a positioning system, a plurality of transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5) transmit respective locating signals which are received at a mobile receiver unit (7). A processing system (7; 9) identifies the transmitter unit that transmitted each locating signal, and determines, for each transmitter unit, range data representative of a respective distance between the transmitter unit and the mobile receiver unit. The processing system determines a position estimate for the mobile receiver unit (7) by solving an optimisation problem that depends on i) the range data determined for the plurality of transmitter units, ii) data representative of the positions of the plurality of transmitter units in an environment (1), and iii) data representative of a position of a surface (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e; 601, 602) in the environment, by optimising for an objective function comprising a cost term that depends on a distance between the surface and the position estimate.
A receiving apparatus (7) that can estimate a motion-induced frequency shift in a received signal comprises a processing system (205) and a receiver (204) configured to receive a signal comprising one or more instances of a transmitted signal. The processing system (205) is configured to generate data representative of a plurality of impulse response functions by deconvolving the received signal with each of a plurality of templates representative of the transmitted signal shifted in frequency by a different respective frequency shift. The processing system (205) is further configured to evaluate a signal-to-noise measure for each of the plurality of impulse response functions, and to identify an impulse response function of the plurality of impulse response functions for which the signal-to-noise measure satisfies a peak criterion.
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 5/30 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
G01S 11/14 - Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
UNIVERSITETET I TROMSØ - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET (Norway)
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY DELHI (India)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Joseph, Joby
Ahluwalia, Balpreet Singh
Tinguely, Jean-Claude
Agarwal, Krishna
Lahrberg, Marcel
Puthukkudymannarakkal, Faiz Kandankulangara
Samanta, Krishnendu
Abstract
Transmission microscopy apparatus (2) comprises an illumination apparatus (10) arranged to illuminate a sample region (6) with first and second monochromatic coherent light beams (12, 14), and an objective lens (4), having an imaging axis (A), for collecting light emanating from a sample (8) within the sample region (6). In a first configuration the first light beam (12) enters the sample region (6) along a first linear path from a first reflecting element (328; 406a; 506a) and the second light beam (14) enters along a second linear path from a second reflecting element (330; 406b; 506b) such that the first and second light beams interfere within the sample region to illuminate the sample with a first interference pattern (16). In a second configuration the first light beam (12) enters the sample region (6) along a different, third linear path such that the first and second light beams (12, 14) illuminate the sample (8) with a different, second interference pattern (18) which is not the same as any translation, rotation, or translation and rotation of the first pattern (16). The first, second and third paths are at respective angles α1, α2, α3 to the imaging axis and at least one is oblique to the imaging axis.
An apparatus (7) for down-converting a sampled signal comprises a processing system (206) configured to apply a mixing-and-combining operation repeatedly to successive sub-sequences of N input samples, X, representative of a signal and having an initial sampling rate, M, to generate a sequence of output samples, Y, having an output rate, T, lower than the initial sampling rate M. The sub-sequences of the N input samples, X, are spaced at intervals that correspond to the output rate M. The mixing-and-combining operation generates a respective output sample Y from each sub-sequence, where Y depends on a set of products of the input samples X of the sub-sequence with respective values derived from a periodic mixing signal having a mixing frequency.
In a positioning system, a plurality of transmitter units (2, 3, 4, 5) transmit respective transmitter-specific identification signals at intervals, which are received at a mobile receiver unit (7). A processing system (7; 9) identifies the transmitter unit that transmitted each received identification signal, and, for each signal, determines range data from time of arrival data and determines distance data from Doppler shift information. The range data and distance data are compared to determine range error data. A position estimate for the mobile receiver unit (7) is determined by solving an optimisation problem using range estimates determined for the plurality of transmitter units, weighted in dependence on the range error data.
G01S 5/02 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
G01S 5/14 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 5/30 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
G01S 11/10 - Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using radio waves using Doppler effect
G01S 11/14 - Systems for determining distance or velocity not using reflection or reradiation using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
A system (1) is used to excite an object (2) at a vibration frequency, in order to induce stationary or travelling waves having the vibration frequency on the surface of the object (2). An optical interferometer is configured to use optical interference to determine vibration amplitude and phase data of the stationary or travelling wave at each of a plurality of points on the surface, relative to a reference phase. A processing system (4) is used to apply a spatial derivative filter to the vibration phase data, and the resulting spatial-derivative-of-phase data is processed to determine a property of the object (2), and is further processed to generate graphical-representation data for outputting on a display device (10).
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Torp, Hans
Hegrum, Torbjørn
Abstract
The invention provides a method of monitoring blood flow in a vertebrate animal subject. Unfocussed plane-wave ultrasound pulses are transmitted into the subject, along a transmission axis, from a single-element ultrasound transducer (2) fastened to the subject (5). Reflections of the ultrasound pulses are received, generating a succession of pulse-Doppler response signals over time. Each pulse-Doppler response signal is processed to determine a first respective spatial-maximum velocity value for blood flowing towards the single transducer element (2), and a second respective spatial-maximum velocity value for blood flowing away. Heartbeats are identified from said spatial-maximum velocity values and a quality metric is assigned to each identified heartbeat. A subset of the spatial-maximum velocity values is identified for which the assigned quality metric exceeds a threshold level. The values from the subset are monitored, and, when a set of values from the subset satisfies a predetermined alert criterion an audible or visual alert is signalled.
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Torp, Hans
Seterness, Arne
Mattson, Erney
Hisdal, Jonny
Pettersen, Erik Mulder
Abstract
The invention provides a method for monitoring peripheral microcirculation in a vertebrate animal subject undergoing or recovering from surgery, wherein said method uses unfocused ultrasound pulses to determine a characteristic of blood flow within in the minor peripheral vasculature of the subject and said characteristic or the profile of said characteristic over time is indicative or predictive of a change in the peripheral microcirculation of the subject. The invention further provides a method for monitoring or predicting the onset of and/or progression of dysfunction of the microvasculature and/or a response to treatment thereof in a vertebrate animal subject, wherein said method uses unfocused ultrasound pulses to determine a characteristic of blood flow within in the minor peripheral vasculature of the subject and said characteristic or the profile of said characteristic over time is indicative or predictive of dysfunction of the microvasculature or response to treatment thereof or variation in said characteristic or a profile of said characteristic over time is indicative or predictive of dysfunction of the microvasculature or is indicative or predictive of a change in the dysfunction of the microvasculature or response to treatment thereof.
A signal estimator (1) for an OFDM radio receiver is configured to generate a signal power estimate for a reference signal received on a subcarrier from a plurality of OFDM subcarriers. The signal estimator (1) generates a first channel estimate as a first function of a first set of one or more unfiltered reference-signal channel estimates, where the first set includes an unfiltered reference-signal channel estimate. It generates a second channel estimate as a second function of a second set of one or more unfiltered reference-signal channel estimates, where the second set has no unfiltered reference-signal channel estimate in common with the first set. The signal estimator (1) then generates the signal power estimate by multiplying the first channel estimate with the second channel estimate, such that the generated signal power estimate does not increase with the absolute square of any of the unfiltered reference- signal channel estimates in the first and second sets.
Anetwork-based communication system(9) has a source network apparatus (10, 13) anda destination network apparatus(11).The source apparatus(10, 13)receivesa stream (14) of information-bearing packets, the stream (14) comprising gaps between at least some of the information-bearing packets. Itgeneratesone or more spacer packets, andgeneratesan augmented stream(15)of packetswhich comprisesthe information-bearing packets and further comprisesspacer packets located within at least some of said gaps, wherein thespacing oftheinformation-bearing packets in the augmented stream(15)isthe same as thespacing of the corresponding information- bearing packets in the received stream(14). It outputsthe augmented stream (15) of packets to a network link(12a).The destination apparatus(11)receivesthe augmented stream (16) of packetsand determineswhether each received packet is an information-bearing packet or a spacer packet. Itoutputsor processesthe received information-bearing packets(17), or information from thesepackets, but discardsthe received spacer packets.
A hardware cipher engine (8) encrypts or decrypts a block of input data from a sequence of blocks using a cipher operation where the block of output data depends on the input block's position in the sequence. In a random-access mode of operation, the engine (8) receives a sequence position, receives a block of input data having that position, and outputs a block of output data without outputting data that encrypts, or that decrypts, every block of input data preceding the received position. In some embodiments, the operation is a stream cipher, and the engine (8) generates a sequence of keystream blocks and performs a combining operation between the input block and a keystream block having a corresponding sequence position. In other embodiments, the cipher operation is a block cipher, and the engine (8) generates, but doesn't output, blocks of data that encrypt, or decrypt, one or more blocks preceding the received input block.
G09C 1/00 - Apparatus or methods whereby a given sequence of signs, e.g. an intelligible text, is transformed into an unintelligible sequence of signs by transposing the signs or groups of signs or by replacing them by others according to a predetermined system
H04L 9/06 - Arrangements for secret or secure communications; Network security protocols the encryption apparatus using shift registers or memories for blockwise coding, e.g. D.E.S. systems
A radio system is provided which comprises a radio receiver (10) and a processing system, wherein the radio receiver (10) is configured to detect radio signals (4, 6, 8) transmitted from a radio transmitter (2) on a plurality of frequency channels, and to measure respective signal strengths (24, 26, 28) of the radio signals (4, 6, 8) for each of the plurality of frequency channels. The processing system is configured to evaluate a measure of statistical dispersion (30) of the respective signal strengths (24), (26, 28) over the plurality of frequency channels, and to use the measure of statistical dispersion (30) to determine information relating to a proximity of the radio transmitter (2) to the radio receiver (10).
A radio communication apparatus (1) receives or generates a base address seed, and generates data-channel access addresses from the seed. Each access address corresponds to a respective data-channel identifier, and is generated by setting a bit at a common first bit position to the value of a bit at a first common predetermined bit position in the base address seed or in the respective data-channel identifier;by setting a bit at a common second bit position to the bitwise complement of this value; and by setting one or more remaining bit positions in dependence on values atone or more bit positions in the base address seed and one or more bit positions in the respective data-channel identifier that are not the first common predetermined bit position. The apparatus (1) can send or receive a radio data packet comprising an access address from the generated set.
H04L 29/12 - Arrangements, apparatus, circuits or systems, not covered by a single one of groups characterised by the data terminal
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
A radio communication apparatus(1) receives or generates a base address seed, and generates data-channel access addresses from the seed. Each access address corresponds to a respective data-channel identifier, and is generated by setting a bit at a common first bit position to the value of a bit at a first common predetermined bit position in the base address seed or in the respective data-channel identifier; by setting a bit at a common second bit position to the bitwise complement of this value; and by setting one or more remaining bit positions in dependence on values atone or more bit positions in the base address seed and one or more bit positions in the respective data-channel identifier that are not thefirst common predetermined bit position. The apparatus (1) can send or receive a radio data packet comprising an access address from the generated set.
H04L 29/12 - Arrangements, apparatus, circuits or systems, not covered by a single one of groups characterised by the data terminal
H04L 29/06 - Communication control; Communication processing characterised by a protocol
H04W 4/80 - Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
An apparatus (301; 302; 303) for use in a packet-based communication system, comprises an input (30, 32) and an output (31). The apparatus (301; 302; 303) is configured to receive a stream of data packets, having an inter-packet spacing, and store the received data packets and information representing the inter-packet spacing in a buffer, wherein the data packets are no longer than a common maximum data- packet length. The apparatus (301; 302; 303) is further configured to schedule, at intervals, all the contents of the buffer except for a constant amount, into a respective container of a sequence of containers and, if the container then contains an incomplete data packet, schedule the remainder of the incomplete packet into the container. The apparatus (301; 302; 303) is further configured to send the sequence of containers, wherein the positions of the data packets within the containers depend on the received inter-packet spacing, and wherein the constant amount is equal to or greater than the common maximum data-packet length.
A telecommunications apparatus (10) is provided which comprises a processing system (12), a cellular-network radio transceiver (14), a first radio module (20a) and a smart card (18). The smart card (16) comprises a microcontroller (17), an electrical interface (24) and a second radio module (20b). The cellular-network radio transceiver (14) and the first radio module (20a) are connected to the processing system (12) by one or more electrical connections (22). The smart card (18) is coupled to the cellular-network radio transceiver (14) through the electrical interface (24) and the processing system (12) is arranged to use a radio communication link (26) between the first radio module (20a) and the second radio module (20b) to communicate data with the microcontroller (17) of the smart card (18). The smart card (16) is configured to interrupt the processing system (12) by sending data over the radio communication link (26).
A system(1)for determining three-dimensional spatial information about an object(2), such as a fish, comprises a projector(4), a camera(5, 6), and a processing subsystem (3). The projector(4)emits structured light towards the object(2). The light has a periodic intensity pattern, having a first spatial frequency in a first direction. The camera(5, 6)captures images of the object(2)over time. The processing subsystem (3)determines aspeed of the object(2), relative to the projector(4), and instructs the projector(4)to control the emitted structured light in dependence on the speed, such that the intensity pattern is shifted, relative to the object(2), between successive images, by a spatial-phase step that is independent of the speed of the object(2). The processing subsystem(3)then usesimages from at least two time frames to calculate spatial phase values for points on the object(2), and uses these spatial phase values to determine three-dimensional spatial information about the object (2).
G01B 11/25 - Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques for measuring contours or curvatures by projecting a pattern, e.g. moiré fringes, on the object
G06T 7/269 - Analysis of motion using gradient-based methods
UNIVERSITETET I TROMSØ - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Ahluwalia, Balpreet Singh
Huser, Thomas R.
Hellesø, Olav Gaute
Abstract
An optical component (910) for illuminating a sample region (955) with a periodic light pattern comprises: a first waveguide (914), a further waveguide (916, 917, 918, 919) and an optical splitter (913a). The optical splitter (913a) has an input (911) for receiving light, a first output and a second output. The first waveguide (914) is optically coupled to the first output, to direct the first input light into the sample region (955) in a first direction (914a). The second output is optically coupled to the sample region (955) to direct second input light into the sample region (955) in a second direction (915a). The further waveguide (916, 917, 918, 919) is arranged to receive third input light which is directed into the sample region in a third direction (916a, 917a, 918a, 919a). The first direction (914a), second direction (915a) and third direction (916a, 917a, 918a, 919a) are different from one another. The first and second input light interferes to form a periodic pattern in the sample region (955). The optical component (910) may be used for structured illumination microscopy.
A system (1) is provided for determining the position of a mobile receiver unit (3a, 3b) in an environment. The system comprises: a transmission apparatus (6a, 6b, 6c) comprising a plurality of ultrasound transmitters configured to transmit a plurality of ultrasonic signals in different respective principal directions, each encoding a different respective direction identifier; a mobile receiver unit (3a, 3b) comprising an ultrasound receiver configured to receive the plurality of ultrasonic signals along a plurality of signal paths, at least one of which includes a reflection off an environment surface (16); and a processing system comprising a decoder arranged to decode the respective direction identifiers from the received signals. The processing system is configured to determine a respective time of arrival for each signal, and use location information relating to the transmission apparatus (6a, 6b, 6c) and the environment surface (16), together with the respective direction identifiers and times of arrival to calculate an estimated position of the mobile receiver unit (3a, 3b).
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 5/30 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
A microcontroller (1) includes a processor (7), a peripheral (15a-15c), a non-volatile memory (13) and a peripheral initialisation system. The peripheral (15a-15c) is arranged to read peripheral configuration data from an addressable volatile-memory peripheral register (21a-21c). The non-volatile memory has a configuration region for storing peripheral initialisation data, which represents the address of the peripheral register and peripheral configuration data. The peripheral initialisation system is arranged to read the peripheral configuration data and the address of the peripheral register from the configuration region, and to write the peripheral configuration data to the address of the peripheral register.
A resettable microcontroller (1) comprising a processor (7), a memory (11, 13), a memory bus, and memory protection logic (9). The microcontroller (1) is arranged to clear a set of memory- protection configuration registers (26) whenever the microcontroller (1) is reset. The memory protection logic (9) is arranged to access the set of memory-protection configuration registers (26) and is configured to monitor memory access requests on the bus; detect when a memory access request attempts to access a memory address in a protectable region of the memory (11, 13); determine whether the memory access request satisfies an access criterion for the protectable region, the access criterion depending on data stored in the set of memory- protection configuration registers (26); block the memory access request when the access criterion is not satisfied; and prevent writing to any memory-protection configuration register (26) unless the memory-protection configuration register (26) is in a cleared state.
G06F 12/14 - Protection against unauthorised use of memory
G06F 9/44 - Arrangements for executing specific programs
G06F 21/74 - Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure computing or processing of information operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
A radio receiver (5) is arranged to receive radio signals. The radio receiver (5) includes a tuner (4), which outputs an electronic signal representing radio waves received by the radio receiver; a correlator (18), which cross-correlates a predetermined signal pattern with the electronic signal, and outputs a correlation signal; and a clear channel assessment module (22). The clear channel assessment module determines when the number of peaks in the correlation signal, over a fixed time window, exceeds a threshold count value, and outputs a busy signal in response to determining that the number of peaks exceeds the threshold count value.
A method of designing a neutral-beam microscope (1) is disclosed. The neutral-beam microscope comprises a neutral-particle source, arranged to emit neutral particles along a path towards a sample region. A skimmer (3) and an aperture-bearing member (5), such as a pinhole or a zone plate, are located along the path. The method comprises calculating (i) a diameter for the skimmer, (ii) a diameter for the aperture (6) of the aperture-bearing member, and (iii) a distance between the skimmer and the aperture, by solving an intensity-optimisation problem for the neutral-beam microscope having a predetermined resolution.
G01N 23/22 - Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups , or by measuring secondary emission from the material
G21K 1/02 - Arrangements for handling particles or ionising radiation, e.g. focusing or moderating using diaphragms, collimators
H05H 3/02 - Molecular or atomic-beam generation, e.g. resonant beam generation
UNIVERSITETET I TROMSØ - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Melandsø, Frank
Wagle, Sanat
Habib, Anowarul
Abstract
A film (1) comprising a piezoelectric polymer (2) has an upper surface and a lower surface. The film has an active region comprising the piezoelectric polymer (2), which extends from the upper surface of the film to the lower surface of the film. The film also comprises an adhesive sheet (3), which defines part of the upper or lower surface of the film. Circuit sheets (4, 5) may be bonded to the upper and lower surfaces in a lamination process to produce a laminated piezoelectric device.
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Torp, Hans
Løvstakken, Lasse
Abstract
An ultrasound imaging method in which ultrasound signals are transmitted into a living organism (5), reflected from fluid flowing along a path within the organism (5), and received by an ultrasound transceiver system (1) with a resolution limit in a first direction. These signals are used to generate data representing a sequence of images over time; each image including a speckle pattern arising from interference within the reflected ultrasound signals. A peak-sharpening operation is applied to the image data, generating data representing a sequence of resolution-enhanced images, each having a resolution in the first direction finer than the resolution limit of the transceiver system (1) in that direction, and including a respective peak-sharpened speckle pattern. A combining operation is applied to generate data representing an output image in which the path of the fluid is represented by a superimposition of the peak-sharpened speckle patterns from the resolution-enhanced images.
NORWEGIAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (NTNU) (Norway)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Torp, Hans
Hergum, Torbjørn
Abstract
A system (1) for monitoring blood flow in a patient (5) comprises a first unit (2) having an ultrasound transducer and a fastener for fastening the unit to the patient. A controller subsystem comprises the first unit (2) and a separate second unit (3, 4). The controller subsystem (2, 3, 4) is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit plane-wave pulses into the patient (5) in a propagation direction;sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region (13) within the patient (5), to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to estimate a series of values, over time, of a measure proportional, but not equal, to the total blood volume flow passing through the region (13). A monitoring subsystem (3, 4) is configured to monitor the series of values over time and to generate a signal if a set of one or more of the values satisfies a predetermined criterion.
UNIVERSITETET I TROMSØ - NORGES ARKTISKE UNIVERSITET (Norway)
UNIVERSITÄT BIELEFELD (Germany)
WILSON, Timothy James (United Kingdom)
Inventor
Ahluwalia, Balpreet Singh
Schüttpelz, Mark
Abstract
An apparatus, for super-resolution imaging of a sample, comprising: an objective lens (4) that collects light emanating from the sample (2) within a forward field of view (30); a processing arrangement (20) that performs super-resolution imaging of the sample with the collected light; a waveguide component (1) arranged to (i) receive input light from outside the field of view, and (ii) use total internal reflection within the waveguide component to direct excitation light onto the sample; and an electronic optical-path control system (40) that causes the input light to: follow, at a first time, a first optical path corresponding to a first optical mode within the waveguide component; and follow, at a second time, a second optical path corresponding to a second optical mode within the waveguide component, wherein the second time is different from the first time, and the second optical mode is different from the first optical mode.
An electronic device (1) such as a cell phone, or a proximity detector for an electronic device (1), has an ultrasound transmitter (5), an ultrasound receiver (6), and a processing system. It transmits an ultrasonic sine-wave signal from the transmitter (5), and receives the ultrasonic sine-wave signal, through air, at the receiver (6). It detects when the frequency of the transmitted signal and a frequency of the received signal satisfy a predetermined difference criterion, and uses this to determine whether to disable or enable a touch or touchless input (2) on the device (1).
G01S 15/04 - Systems determining presence of a target
G01S 15/32 - Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated
G01S 15/34 - Systems for measuring distance only using transmission of continuous waves, whether amplitude-, frequency-, or phase-modulated, or unmodulated using transmission of continuous, frequency-modulated waves while heterodyning the received signal, or a signal derived therefrom, with a locally-generated signal related to the contemporaneously transmitted signal
G01S 15/52 - Discriminating between fixed and moving objects or between objects moving at different speeds
G01S 15/58 - Velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
G01S 15/88 - Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications
A digital radio receiver (7) is arranged to receive and process data frames, each data frame comprising (i) a plurality of identical synchronization sequences; (ii) identification data different from the synchronization sequences; and (iii) convolution-encoded message data. An initial-synchronization section of the receiver (7) uses the plurality of synchronization sequences in a received data frame to perform a frequency- synchronization or symbol-timing-synchronization operation. A frame-synchronization section determines frame-synchronization information by correlating at least a part of the received identification data against reference identification data stored in a memory. A convolution-decoding section uses the frame-synchronization information to decode the message data.
An optical interferometer (1) is used to determine information about the position, gradient or motion of a surface of an object (2) at each of a plurality of points on the surface. An image is projected onto the surface of the object (2), such that, for each of the plurality of points, the intensity or spectrum of the projected image at that point depends on the determined information about the position, gradient or motion of the surface at that point.
A microcontroller (1) comprises a processor (2), a memory (3), a bus (15) connecting the processor (2) and the memory (3) and a memory watch unit (14), comprising one or more memory-watch event registers and one or more configuration registers. The memory watch unit (14) is arranged to monitor memory access instructions on the bus (15), and can be configured, using the one or more configuration registers, to (i) detect a memory access instruction for a memory address in a configurable watch region of the memory (3), and (ii) change the contents of one or more memory-watch event registers in response to such a detection.
A microcontroller (2) has a processor (6), peripherals (18, 20, 22, 24, 26), a programmable peripheral interconnect (PPI) (10), an event-generating unit (EGU) (17), and a memory (8). The peripherals respond to task signals from the PPI. The EGU responds to a predetermined change to the contents of an event-generating register (57, 59) by signalling an event to the PPI. Stored PPI mappings can map an EGU event to a task of one of the peripherals. Mappings from one EGU event to two or more peripheral tasks cause the PPI to respond to an event signal from the EGU by sending the respective task signals within a maximum time limit. Software in the memory comprises instructions to store such mappings in a mapping memory, and to make the predetermined change to the contents of the event-generating register. In another aspect, an interrupt-generating unit (17) is arranged to send an interrupt to the processor (6) in response to receiving a task signal from the PPI (10).
A system (1) for determining the location of a mobile receiver unit (3a, 3b. 3c) comprises static transmitter units (6a, 6b, 6c), each comprising a respective clock which it uses to transmit a positioning signal according to a respective transmission schedule. The mobile receiver unit (3a, 3b, 3c) receives a positioning signal from any of the static transmitter units. A first processing means (2) uses information relating to the received positioning signal to determine the location of the mobile receiver unit. A second processing means (2) uses information relating to a respective drift and/or offset of each of the clocks of the static transmitter units to generate transmission schedules for the static transmitter units. Each transmission schedule instructs a respective static transmitter unit (6a, 6b, 6c) to transmit a positioning signal at one or more scheduled times according to the clock of the static transmitter unit.
G01S 5/30 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
G01S 5/00 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
G01S 5/02 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using radio waves
41.
PACKET-BASED RADIO RECEIVER WITH AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL
A packet-based radio receiver (10) comprises an automatic gain control system (17) and a signal-level detector (18, 19, 20) for monitoring an analogue signal derived from radio signals received by the radio receiver. The signal-level detector (18, 19, 20) comprises a binary memory cell (22, 24)and a monitoring system. The monitoring system comprises a comparator (21, 23)arranged to receive a reference voltage at a first input and the analogue signal at a second input. The monitoring system is arranged to (i) continuously monitor the voltage of the analogue signal, (ii) detect when the monitored signal exceeds the reference voltage, and (iii) store a predetermined binary value in the memory cell (22, 24) in response to such a detection. The automatic gain control system (17) is arranged to control the gain of a variable-gain component (12, 13, 14) of the radio receiver in dependence on the contents of the binary memory cell (22, 24).
A method of processing three-dimensional image data for volume-rendering from a viewpoint is described. Lower- and upper-bound-generating functions are used (7) to determine whether, across all possible values for the image voxels between respective lower and upper bounds, for each voxel (i) the voxel may be at least partially opaque under the opacity transfer function (8); and (ii) the voxel may be unoccluded from the viewpoint (9). A predetermined processing operation is then applied to these potentially-visible voxels, for which both determinations hold true (10) and the processed voxels may be rendered (1 1). The bound-generating functions and the processing operation are such that, for any three-dimensional image data, the value of a voxel after the processing operation will necessarily lie between the lower and upper bounds for that voxel.
A radio transmitter (4) comprises an encoder (5) that receives one or more variable message bits,and encodes each message bit that has a first value as a predetermined first binary chip sequence and encodes each message bit that has the opposite value as a predetermined second binary chip sequence. The radio transmitter (4) transmits data packets, each comprising (i) a predetermined synchronisation portion, comprising one or more instances of the first binary chip sequence, and (ii) a variable data portion, comprising one or more encoded message bits output by the encoder. A radio receiver (9) receives such data packets. It uses the synchronisation portion of a received data packet to perform a frequency and/or timing synchronisation operation, and then decodes message bits from the data portion of the data packet.
An integrated-circuit radio communication device (1) comprises a processor (7) having a hardware-interrupt input line; memory (13); radio communication logic (17); and interrupt-interface logic (8). The memory (13) contains a firmware module (23) comprising (i) instructions (31) for controlling the radio communication logic (17) according to a predetermined radio protocol, and (ii) an interrupt routine comprising instructions for receiving an identification of a radio communication function in the firmware module (23) and for invoking the identified radio communication function. The interrupt-interface logic (8) comprises input logic for receiving a signal generated by software (27) executing on the device (1), and output logic arranged to assert the hardware-interrupt input line of the processor (7) in response to receiving a software-generated signal at the input logic. The device (1) is configured to invoke the interrupt routine in response to an assertion of the hardware-interrupt input line of the processor (7).
An integrated-circuit radio communication device (1) comprises processing means (7), memory (13), and radio communication logic (17). The memory (13) stores (i) a boot- loader (22), (ii) a firmware module (23) in a firmware memory region, and (iii) a software application (27) in a software-application memory region. The firmware module (23)comprises instructions for controlling the radio communication logic (17) according to a predetermined radio protocol, and the software application (27) comprises instructions for invoking a radio-communication function of the firmware module (23). The boot-loader (22) or the firmware module (23) comprises instructions for using the radio communication logic (17) to receive a new firmware module (40), and the boot-loader (22) or the firmware module (23) comprises instructions for storing the new firmware module (40) in the software-application memory region such that at least a portion of the software application (27) is overwritten by the new firmware module (40). The boot-loader (22) comprises instructions for moving or copying the new firmware module (40) from the software-application memory region to the firmware memory region.
Image data (1) is filtered by determining, for each of a first plurality of points (4, 5) within the image data, which of a plurality of directions is the direction along which a line of samples containing the point has the least variation according to a predetermined measure of variation. This generates data representing a vector field. For each of a second plurality of points (4, 5) within the image data, (i) the vector field is integrated to determine a streamline or streamline segment from the point, and (ii) a filtered value for the point is determined by applying a filtering operation to the image data using a filtering kernel oriented along the streamline or streamline segment.
A transmitter device (4, 6) transmits an ultrasonic signal encoding a binary identifier. Each bit position in the identifier is associated with a pair of frequencies and with first and second time positions in the signal. The bit value determines which of the pair of frequencies is transmitted at the first time position, with the other being transmitted at the second time position. A receiver device (10) receives the signal. Each bit position of the identifier is decoded based on the strength of the received signal at (a) the first frequency and first time position associated with the particular bit position, (b) the associated first frequency and second time position, (c) the associated second frequency and first time position, and (d) the associated second frequency and second time position. The decoded identifier is used to determine information relating to the position of a mobile one of the devices.
G01S 1/74 - Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves - Details
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
H04L 1/08 - Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system
H04B 11/00 - Transmission systems employing ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
H04L 27/10 - Frequency-modulated carrier systems, i.e. using frequency-shift keying
An integrated-circuit radio communication device (1) comprises a processor (7), memory (13), and radio communication logic (17). The memory (13) has a firmware module (23) stored at a firmware memory address, the firmware module (23) comprising instructions for controlling the radio communication logic (17) according to a predetermined radio protocol. The processor (7) is configured to receive supervisor call instructions, each having an associated supervisor call number, and to respond to a supervisor call instruction by (i) invoking a supervisor call handler in the firmware module (23), and (ii) making the supervisor call number available to the call handler. A software application (27) is loaded into the memory (13) of the device (1), and stored at a predetermined application memory address. It is arranged to invoke a radio communication function from the firmware module (23) by issuing a supervisor call instruction having an associated predetermined supervisor call number corresponding to the function to be invoked.
An integrated-circuit device (1) comprises a processor (7), memory (13) for storing executable code, and memory protection logic (9). The memory protection logic (9) is configured to: determine the state of a read protection flag for a protected region of the memory (13);detect a memory read request by the processor (7); determine whether the read request is for an address in the protected region of the memory (13); determine whether the processor (7) issued the read request while executing code stored in the protected region of the memory (13); and deny read requests for addresses in the protected region if the read protection flag for the protected region is set, unless at least one of one or more access conditions is met, wherein one of the access conditions is that the processor (7) issued the read requests while executing code stored in the protected region.
G06F 21/74 - Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure computing or processing of information operating in dual or compartmented mode, i.e. at least one secure mode
G06F 12/14 - Protection against unauthorised use of memory
G06F 21/79 - Protecting specific internal or peripheral components, in which the protection of a component leads to protection of the entire computer to assure secure storage of data in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
A data distribution system comprises a plurality of processing devices (8) connected by a packet-based transport network (2), and a session manager (12). The session manager (12) is configured to manage a distribution session by (i) associating two or more of the processing devices (8) with a multicast group on the transport network, (ii) storing and/or accessing a mapping between a session identifier for the distribution session and the multicast group address, and (iii) configuring the transport network (2) and/or the processing devices (8) so that data output to the multicast group by any one of the processing devices in the group is received by all the other processing devices in the group. Each of the processing devices (8) can receive data from a respective node (16) located on an external network, and send the received data, or data derived therefrom, over the transport network (2) to a multicast group. Each processing devicecan also receive further data over the transport network destined for the respective node (16), and send these further data, or data derived therefrom, to the respective node (16).
An electronic apparatus (1) has a transmitter (10) arranged to transmit an acoustic signal. It also has a receiver (11), for receiving acoustic energy comprising a reflection of the acoustic signal from an input object (5). It generates an electronic received signal from the received acoustic energy. The apparatus (1) has processing means (8) arranged to: (i) analyse at least a portion of the received signal to determine a linear combination of basis functions which represents an interference component in the received signal; (ii) use the determined linear combination to attenuate interference within the received signal, to give a post- attenuation signal; and (iii) use the post-attenuation signal to determine a user input to the electronic apparatus (1).
A user input to a system is processed by transmitting one or more signals through air towards a moving input object (12). A first signal, comprising a reflection from the input object (12), is received during a first time period, and is used to determine a characteristic of the movement of the input object (12). A second signal, comprising a further reflection from the input object (12), is received during a second time period, starting after the first time period has ended. The second received signal and the movement characteristic are together used to determine an input, to which the system responds.
A public network (10, 11) links a plurality of nodes (20, 21), each associated with at least one network address. A transport network (12) connects a plurality of routers (1), each of which is also connected to the public network (10, 11). A database (130) holds geographical location information associated with respective network addresses on the public network (10, 11). The database (130) is used to determine which of the routers (1) is closest to geographical locations associated with the network addresses. Information is stored that identifies these closest routers. The information is suitable for use in a routing protocol for routing data packets through the transport network (12) to a destination outside the transport network.
Peripherals(18, 20, 22, 24, 26) are connected to a processor (6) and a programmable peripheral interconnect (10) is connected to each peripheral. One of the peripherals (18) is configured to signal an event to the interconnect, and one of the peripherals (20) is configured to respond to a task signal from the interconnect by performing a task. The task-receiving peripheral (20) has a task register (40), addressable by the processor (6), and performs the task in response to a change in the contents of the register (40). The interconnect (10) accesses a memory (14) in which a mapping is stored between an event of a first peripheral (18) and a task of a second peripheral (20), the mapping comprising (i) an identification of the event, and (ii) the address of a task register (40). The mapping causes the interconnect (10) to provide a channel by sending a task signal to the second peripheral (20) in response to a signal of the event from the first peripheral (18).
An assay cartridge has a base member (26) that defines at least two wells (30, 32, 34, 36, 38), a pipette (108, 110) positionable in at least one of the wells and a cap member (86) arranged to carry the pipette. The cap member can be releasably fastened to the base member. An extension member (28) defines at least one further well(40, 42, 44) and can be fastened to the base member such that the pipette is then positionable in at least one of the wells of the base and in the further well of the extension member.
A network (2) has wireless access points (6, 8), each configured for bi-directional communication, using a first radio protocol, with a communication device that has been associated with the access point by an association data exchange. Each access point i(6, 8) s also configured to receive, at a first data rate using the first radio protocol, a multicast radio message and to forward the multicast message onto the network. A radio transmitter (10) is configured to send data at a second data rate, using a second radio protocol different from the first radio protocol. A wireless communication unit (12) transmits a multicast radio message at the first data rate using the first radio protocol. It also receives data from the radio transmitter (10) at the second data rate using the second radio protocol and decodes the data.
Static transmitter stations (4,6) are used to determine the position of a mobile receiver unit (10). Each transmitter station transmits an ultrasonic signal comprising a transmitter-specific phase-shifting signature (40). The receiver unit receives a signal and identifies a transmitter station by its signature. It uses the received signal and the identity of the source transmitter station to determine the position of the mobile receiver unit. The signature may comprise two patterns (30,34) phase-shift-key (PSK)-encoded on respective carrier signals of the same frequency but different phase, with the patterns being offset from each other by a transmitter-specific offset. The signal from the transmitter station may also include a PSK-encoded message (44).
G01S 1/72 - Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 1/74 - Beacons or beacon systems transmitting signals having a characteristic or characteristics capable of being detected by non-directional receivers and defining directions, positions, or position lines fixed relatively to the beacon transmitters; Receivers co-operating therewith using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves - Details
G01S 1/80 - Systems for determining direction or position line using a comparison of transit time of synchronised signals transmitted from non-directional transducers or transducer systems spaced apart, i.e. path-difference systems
G01S 5/26 - Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements
G01S 5/30 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
A serial interface comprises a clock line, a request line, a ready line, a master-to- slave data line, and a slave-to-master data line. A master device transmits a clock signal to a slave device over the clock line. In a first transaction, the master device sends a master transmission request signal to the slave device over the request line; in response, the slave device sends a slave transmission accept signal over the ready line, which causes the master device to transmit binary data to the slave device over the master-to-slave data line. In a second transaction, the slave device sends a slave transmission request signal over the ready line; in response, the master device sends a master transmission accept signal over the request line, which causes the slave device to transmit binary data to the master device over the slave-to-master data line. In at least one of the transactions, the master and slave devices transmit binary data at the same time as each other.
An integrated-circuit, continuous-time, sigma-delta analogue-to-digital converter has a single-ended analogue input, a converter reference input, and a ground connection. The converter has a resistor-capacitor integrator arranged to receive the single-ended analogue input. The integrator comprises a differential amplifier. The converter also has a clocked comparator connected to an output from the integrator, and circuitry arranged so that reference inputs to the amplifier and to the comparator can be maintained at a common voltage derived from the converter reference input.
A network node (100) comprises an optical input, an optical output, a random- access queue (190) and processing means (140). It receives a data packet, at the optical input and determines whether to process it as a guaranteed-service packet or as a statistically-multiplexed packet. A guaranteed-service packet is output within a predetermined maximum time of receipt, optionally within a data container comprising container control information. A statistically-multiplexed packet is queued. The node (100) determines a set of statistically-multiplexed packets that would fit a gap between two guaranteed-service packets; selects one of the packets; and outputs it between the two guaranteed-service packets.
An integrated oscillator circuit comprises an oscillator configured to be switched between a first frequency and a second frequency. A switching circuit receives an input representing a target frequency and switches the oscillator between the first and second frequencies at intervals determined by the input, so as to cause the average output frequency of the oscillator to approximate the target frequency.
H03K 5/135 - Arrangements having a single output and transforming input signals into pulses delivered at desired time intervals by the use of time reference signals, e.g. clock signals
G06F 1/08 - Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
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