Abstract: A method for detecting a defect in a multi-junction solar cell is presented. The multi-junction solar cell comprises at least two vertically stacked p-n junctions. The method comprises exciting a first p-n junction of the at least two vertically stacked p-n junctions by illuminating the solar cell with excitation light in a first excitation wavelength range, detecting photoluminescence light emitted by photoluminescence of the first p-n junction, and generating a spatially resolved first photoluminescence image of the photoluminescence light emitted by the first p-n junction. Further, a computer program product and an apparatus for detecting a defect in a multi-junction solar cell are presented.

Abstract: A discharge chamber of an ion drive, an ion drive having a discharge chamber, and a diaphragm for being affixed in a discharge chamber of an ion drive. The discharge chamber comprises a diaphragm, wherein the diaphragm of the discharge chamber comprises a magnet and is disposed and/or affixed in the discharge chamber.

Abstract: A landing device for a low gravity lander having a main body. The landing device comprises a number of leg-like rods attached to the main body, wherein, in a deployment position of the rods, each of the number of rods is inclined with regard to a plane of a first side surface of the main body such that the rods substantially extend in a direction of movement of the low gravity lander. Furthermore, the number of rods is made such that they bend or buckle under forces within a predetermined range by an impact due to a landing on a landing surface, thereby absorbing an impact momentum.

Abstract: A receiver for spread spectrum signals comprising a first part for preprocessing and digitizing a received signal, and a second part for tracking the digitized signal comprising a carrier loop and a code loop. The code loop comprises a generator for a reference receiver signal for correlation with the received signal and the code loop is configured to modify the reference signal to shape a correlation function between the received signal and the reference receiver signal. The first part is adapted to multiply the received spread spectrum signal with a first analog spectral offsetting signal provided for down-converting the received signal to an intermediate frequency and a sub-carrier frequency, selected from a set of sub-carrier frequencies, such that the received signal is down-converted and spectrally offset in the analog domain during a time interval covering at least one chip of a spreading code of the received signal.

Abstract: A signal coupling device associating a first frequency band signal and a second, different frequency band, signal in a common waveguide and distributing the signals to two separate waveguides. The device comprises first and second circular waveguides. The second waveguide is coaxially arranged inside a cylindrical interior of the first waveguide. The first waveguide comprises inwardly projecting inner circumference projections in a region occupied only by the first waveguide. The projections activate higher modes from a fundamental mode. The first and second waveguides and the projections cause the superposition of the fundamental and higher modes to produce a wave front having field components in the first frequency band only in a cylindrical ring region between the second waveguide outer circumference and the first waveguide inner circumference, and having field components in the second frequency band only in a cylindrical interior of the second waveguide.

Abstract: An ion sensor comprises an electron repelling electrode to be placed at a negative electric potential, and an ion repelling electrode to be placed at a variable positive electric potential. The electron repelling electrode is formed by a diaphragm element having a diaphragm opening for the passage of an ion beam. The ion repelling electrode forms a blind hole which faces the diaphragm opening with its open hole end and the hole surface of which forms a collector face for detecting impinging ions. With such an ion sensor it is possible, for example, to test the energy spectrum of the ions contained in an exhaust plasma plume of an ion thruster.

Abstract: A transfer device includes at least one pump unit provided for a defined gas transfer between a first, closed-off space of an installation, in particular a photobioreactor installation, and a second space which is separate from the first space. The at least one pump unit is embodied as a selective oxygen pump.

Abstract: A method and device for the wireless transmission, in closed spaces, of energy emitted by at least one light source. The energy emitted by the light source is received by at least one solar cell module in the closed space and is converted into electricity. The method includes the steps of reflecting at least a part of the light energy emitted by the light source at a reflective surface inside the space, receiving the reflected light energy in the at least one solar cell module, and converting the reflected light energy into electricity. The device includes at least one solar cell module inside the closed space, configured to receive the light energy and convert the light energy into electricity. At least a portion of the space comprises a reflective inner surface comprising a multilayer insulation surface, at which the energy emitted by at least one light source is reflected.

Abstract: A device for holding and aligning a component includes a first and a second housing part and a tilting device. The first housing part is arranged on a first end for stationary arrangement on a carrier and the second housing part is arranged on a second end for connection to the useful component. The first end and the second end are on opposite sides of the device in relation to a longitudinal axis. The tilting device mechanically connects the first and the second housing parts to one another and enables a defined alignment and holding of the relative position of the second housing part in relation to the first housing part. The actuator of the tilting device is a number of wires made of a shape-memory alloy. A length of each of the number of wires is individually adjustable by a respective determination of the resistance, which can be processed as a control variable in a control loop.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for an aerospace component includes an inlet, an outlet, and an actuator that can be actuated by a heating element. In a non-actuated state of the actuator, the valve is open to allow flow between the inlet and the outlet. The actuator is a single-use effect shape memory actuator that is compressed in the martensitic state along a longitudinal axis of the actuator and integrated into the valve arrangement. Through the activation of the heating element upon reaching a predetermined transformation temperature, the actuator undergoes a change in length, whereby it is gradually pressed against a seal seat that is embodied at the inlet or the outlet.

Abstract: A tank or tank system for storing a cryogenic liquid exhibiting at least one collecting container with an upper region and a lower region, so as to hold the cryogenic liquid, at least one arrangement for feeding and discharging liquids and at least one arrangement for feeding and discharging gases, wherein the tank further exhibits at least one frame structure comprising a thermal insulation material.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a blanker configured to provide a plurality of blanked signals, each blanked signal corresponding to a respective correlator channel signal of a plurality of correlator channel signals. The correlator channel signal is obtainable based on the respective blanked signal and a respective signal replica of a plurality of signal replicas, the signal replicas being shifted with respect to each other. The blanker is configured to obtain each blanked signal based on applying a respective thresholding scheme to a respective signal component of a plurality of signal components derived from a received spread-spectrum signal. The respective thresholding scheme is based on the respective signal component and the signal replica based on which the correlator channel signal corresponding to the respective blanked signal is obtainable. A receiver comprising such an apparatus is provided as is a method comprising providing a plurality of blanked signals.

Abstract: A redox device, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox device, includes at least one redox unit which is provided for carrying out at least one redox reaction with consumption and/or production of a first gas, in particular hydrogen gas, and/or of a second gas, in particular oxygen gas. The redox device includes at least one gas purification unit for freeing the hydrogen gas of contamination by oxygen gas and/or freeing the oxygen gas of contamination by hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A method for controlled movement of magnetic carriers in a sample volume for performing immunoassays under weightless or reduced-weight conditions, wherein the magnetic carriers are moved inside the sample volume by means of permanent magnets movably arranged relative to at least one spatial axis of the sample volume.

Abstract: The invention is based on a method for performing a biochemical analysis, especially in outer space, wherein at least one analyte in a sample is determined qualitatively and/or quantitatively by means of selective binding of an analyte-specific pair composed of a binding substance and a detection substance to the analyte and by labeling by a labeling substance, and wherein the sample, the binding substance, the detection substance and the labeling substance are mixed in a reaction vessel in one method step. It is proposed that the mixing be brought about by means of mixing bodies.

Abstract: A method for gas processing, in particular for processing biogas of a biogas plant in which in one method step a membrane process or a reactive process is executed, and in at least one further method step an adsorption and/or absorption process is executed.

Abstract: An interactive system for unlocking a locked airplane cockpit door having at least one ground station and at least one system for transmitting data between the ground station and airplane, including a ground station signal for actuating a door unlock mechanism. The airplane has: a passenger cabin located door unlock request unit to generate a door unlock request signal; a unit to transmit the request signal; at least one image capture unit in the passenger cabin or a cockpit and a unit to transmit images; a unit for receiving a door unlock signal; and an on-board computer, configured to receive the door unlock signal from the receiving unit and activate the door unlock mechanism. The ground station is connected to at least one receiving station for door unlock request and image signals transmitted from airplanes and is provided with or connected to a transmitting unit for door unlock signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for balance training and/or fine motor skills training, having at least one movable platform which can be moved in an oscillating manner in at least two dimensions, having at least one counterforce unit which is provided to oppose a force for producing a deflection of the movable platform with a resistance. The apparatus has at least one force transmission interruption unit which interrupts a force flow between the movable platform and the counterforce unit in at least one operating state.

Abstract: A method describes the architecture of a vision-supported navigation system in a terrain using available topographical maps, which is based on already existing methods for detecting prominent terrain features. An offline process used in this case creates a feature database from existing topographical maps, which is subsequently used in an online process for recognizing features that have been seen. In this case, virtual reference images of the expected situation are created using computer graphical methods, which are analyzed using methods for feature extraction, and a feature catalog made up of vision-based feature vectors and the associated 3D coordinates of the localized features is derived from the same. These data are stored in a flight system in the form of a model database, for example, and enable navigation close to a reference trajectory and for a planned lighting situation.

Abstract: A redox device, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox device, has at least one redox unit, in particular a hydrogen-oxygen redox unit, which is intended for carrying out at least one redox reaction with consumption and/or production of a first gas, in particular hydrogen gas, and/or of a second gas, in particular oxygen gas. The redox device includes at least one residual gas purification unit which frees at least one residual gas in the redox unit of at least one gas impurity at least in at least one rest mode of the redox unit.