Abstract: There is disclosed a method and system for tracking purchasing data for an individual consumer of a product or service. The method includes assembling a database of purchasing data and preferences for an individual consumer, extracting the purchasing data and preferences from the individual database by a terminal device, analyzing the extracted purchasing data and preferences at a collection center, and communicating customized information to the individual consumer based on the analysis of the extracted purchasing data and preferences.

Abstract: The present invention provides a very small volume and broad band antenna for a portable appliance including a transceiver module with an independent ground and an antenna feed conductor, the antenna comprising a first conductive surface lying substantially in a first geometrical surface of non-closed curvilinear shape surrounding an inside space and connectable to the independent ground of the transceiver module of the appliance; and a second conductive surface disposed substantially in a second geometrical surface substantially coinciding with the first geometrical surface and situated in the inside space, and forming a radiating assembly connectable to the antenna feed conductor; whereby the antenna is semi-independent of the elements of the appliance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna of small dimensions. According to an embodiment, the antenna comprises: a radiating element in the form of a plate; an antenna feed connected to the radiating element; a conductive surface substantially parallel to the radiating element and placed at a distance e from the element, the conductive surface being provided with at least one slot facing the radiating element; and a conductive connection between the conductive surface and the radiating element.

Abstract: The invention provides an elongate antenna having a radiating portion constituted by an elongate conductor element. The elongate element is machined to include: N dipoles (where N is an integer not less than 2) made up of N rectilinear sections of said element in alignment; and N?1 phase-shifter elements, each phase-shifter element being interposed between two consecutive dipoles, each phase-shifter element having a section of the elongate conductor element folded into a U-shape and having branches which are substantially juxtaposed and which extend in a direction that is orthogonal to the common direction of the dipoles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a patch type antenna comprising:

Abstract: The present invention provides a very small volume and broad band antenna for a portable appliance including a transceiver module with an independent ground and an antenna feed conductor, the antenna comprising a first conductive surface lying substantially in a first geometrical surface of non-closed curvilinear shape surrounding an inside space and connectable to the independent ground of the transceiver module of the appliance; and a second conductive surface disposed substantially in a second geometrical surface substantially coinciding with the first geometrical surface and situated in the inside space, and forming a radiating assembly connectable to the antenna feed conductor; whereby the antenna is semi-independent of the elements of the appliance.

Abstract: The invention relates to an antenna of small dimensions.

Abstract: The invention provides an elongate antenna.

Abstract: The invention relates to an internal antenna element of the patch type for a portable device. The element comprises a body of dielectric material, a conductive plate covering the top face of the dielectric, and a conductive strip covering one of the side faces of the dielectric, the strip being electrically connected along its top edge to one of the edges of said plate and being provided with electrical connection means for connecting said conductive strip to a ground plane that is to be placed against the bottom face of the dielectric body, the other three side faces having no metallization, means passing through the dielectric body for electrically connecting the hot point of an antenna conductor to said plate, and capacitor-forming means for providing capacitance between the plate and the ground plane when the antenna element is mounted on the ground plane, and located close to the side face of the dielectric body that is remote from its side face covered by said conductive strip.

Abstract: A flame support 20 has a plurality of discrete regions 22 through which fuel/air mixture can pass by means of burner ports 13 which extend through the support to a multiplicity of openings 25 at the flame supporting side 24. The support 20 comprises barriers 21/26 which extend between and separate the discrete regions 22. The barriers serve to prevent the passage of fuel/air mixture from upstream of the support to the downstream side 24 of the support in a region between the discrete regions. In burners provided with such a flame support, the likelihood of resonant combustion noise occurring has been found to be reduced.

Abstract: A fuel fired burner is provided for receiving a premixture of fuel and air. A ceramic flame support extends across the burner chamber and has a plurality of elongate slots through which the fuel and air flows. Each slot has a narrow constant dimension portion that opens into a wider constant dimension portion. The outlet end of the latter portion opens into a short diverging outlet. The arrangement is such that when the burner is operating within a given heat output range, the burner flame can move between the upstream and downstream ends of the diverging outlet to seek stabilization as the heat output changes within that range, without retracting into the slot upstream of the outlet.