Abstract: An electrostatic lens comprising a first conductive plate with a first aperture, a second conductive plate with a second aperture, the second aperture being substantially aligned with the first aperture, a voltage supply for supplying a first voltage to the first conductive plate and a second voltage to the second conductive plate, the first voltage being lower than the second voltage, and an insulating structure for separating the first conductive plate from the second conductive plate. The insulating structure comprises a first portion in contact with the first conductive plate and a second portion in contact with the second conductive plate, the first portion having an overhanging portion and the second portion having an indented portion at an edge of the insulating structure, so that a gap is formed between the overhanging portion and the second conductive plate.

Abstract: A heat exchange laminate comprises a formable carrier layer at least partially covered with a flexible liquid retaining layer having an open structure. By forming such a laminate of two layers, desired properties such as the spatial distribution of the liquid retaining layer, can be imparted to the heat exchange laminate prior to forming. The laminate may then be conveniently formed into any desired shape by known manufacturing procedures for incorporation into a heat exchanger. The laminate may be used to cool a first fluid by evaporation of a liquid into a second fluid operating at or near its saturation point.

Abstract: A direct write lithography system. The system includes a converter having an array of light controllable electron sources, each field emitter being arranged for converting light into an electron beam, the field emitters having an element distance between each two adjacent field emitters, each filed emitter having an activation area. A plurality of individually controllable light sources, each light source arranged for activating one field emitter. A controller controls each light source individually. Each electron beam is focused from the field emitters with a diameter smaller than the diameter of a light source on an object plane.

Abstract: A charged particle optical system comprising a beamlet generator for generating a plurality of beamlets of charged particles and an electrostatic deflector for deflecting the beamlets. The electrostatic deflector comprises first and second electrodes adapted for connection to a voltage for generating an electric field between the electrodes for deflection of the beamlets, the electrodes being at least partially freestanding in an active area of the electrostatic deflector. The electrodes define at least one passing window for passage of at least a portion of the beamlets between the electrodes, the passing window having a length in a first direction and a width in a transverse direction. The system is adapted to arrange the beamlets in at least one row and to direct a single row of the beamlets through the passing window of the electrostatic deflector, the beamlets of the row extending in the first direction.

Abstract: An unmanned vehicle for use in a stable such as a cowshed is provided with detection components for determining meteorological conditions. The detection components comprise sensors for determining temperature, air velocity, gas, analysis, light, air pressure, and air humidity. The detection sensors are disposed at different heights on the vehicle and on a telescopic carrier for providing determinations at variable altitudes. The vehicle includes a data processing unit for storing and analyzing data. The vehicle also includes a transmitting unit and signaling device for transfer of data and for alerting an operator of threatening meteorological conditions and when they become hostile. Composition and quantity of feed which is provided to animals in the stable is varied dependent on changes in climate detected by the vehicle.

Abstract: A charged particle multi-beamlet system for exposing a target using a plurality of beamlets. The system comprises a first plate having a plurality of holes formed in it, with a plurality of electrostatic projection lens systems formed at the location of each hole so that each electron beamlet passes through a corresponding projection lens system. The holes have sufficiently uniform placement and dimensions to enable focusing of the beamlets onto the surface of the target using a common control voltage. Preferably the electrostatic projection lens systems are controlled by a common electrical signal to focus the electron beamlets on the surface without correction of the focus or path of individual electron beamlets.

Abstract: An in-line process for making a thin film electronic device on a substrate is described comprising the steps of: a) depositing a structurable layer onto a substrate; b) depositing a patternable material onto the structurable layer in a first pattern; and c) etching the structurable layer in areas uncovered by the patternable material. The steps are carried out without intermediate exposure of the substrate to ambient air.

Abstract: An agricultural machine, comprises a frame, two or more processing members, which are movably attached to the frame, and a drive device which is configured to drive the processing members. The drive device comprises a main drive shaft, two drive sections connected to the main drive shaft, which drive sections are each configured to drive one or more of the two or more processing members, wherein each drive section comprises a drive shaft. The drive device further comprises a protective device which enables a certain angular rotation between the two drive shafts in the case of an overload of one of the two drive shafts, and a coupling brake device which is configured to effect, at the angular rotation between the two drive shafts, a coupling between the other drive shaft and a part of the agricultural machine that is not co-rotatable with the two drive shafts.

Abstract: The invention relates to coated particles comprising particles and a crosslinked polysiloxane coating and to a process for the manufacture of said coated particles. Further, the invention relates to the use of the coated particles to improve surface properties of articles and to material compositions comprising the coated particles, in particular coating compositions. According to the invention there is provided coated particles comprising particles having a surface with hydroxy functional groups and a crosslinked polysiloxane coating comprising a reaction product of polysiloxane disilanol according to formula I: wherein n is 1 to 25, and wherein each R is a same or different hydrocarbon group, and a coating crosslinking agent, preferably an alkoxysiloxane having 3 or 4 alkoxy groups which polysiloxane coating is at least partly grafted to the particle surface by reaction with the hydroxy functional groups on the particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a waterborne multistage polymer dispersion that has ethylenically unsaturated functional groups for crosslinking. The process comprises the steps of; a. making an aqueous emulsion or solution of a first stage polymer comprising carboxylic acid functionalized monomers to an amount sufficient to make the first stage polymer water soluble or dispersible, b. at least partially neutralizing the first stage polymer with a base, c. forming a two-stage polymer dispersion by adding to the at least partially neutralized first stage polymer a second stage monomer mixture and emulsion polymerizing said second stage monomer mixture to a second stage polymer which is less hydrophilic than the first stage polymer, d. reacting with the obtained two-stage polymer dispersion a bi-functional compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a group reactive towards the carboxylic acid in the two-stage polymer.

Abstract: A system for managing a group of dairy animals to be milked fully automatically, where the dairy animals go through a lactation cycle comprising phases of calving, inmilking, producing milk, and being dry. The system includes a computer executing program instructions for recording information and processing data indicating a division of the group of dairy animals into subgroups of a plurality of dairy animals, an insemination period determined per subgroup within which the dairy animals of the subgroup concerned are to be inseminated, which insemination period is so short that substantially all dairy animals in the subgroup concerned go simultaneously through the lactation cycle, and a separation of pregnant dairy animals of at least one of the subgroups in a separate area, around the beginning of the being dry phase of the subgroup concerned.

Abstract: A system for demarcating an area comprises a movable demarcating element, and a control system for determining the magnitude and/or the moment of a next move of the movable demarcating element. The system furthermore comprises one or more observation devices for observing an entity near the movable demarcating element, such as a position of a dairy animal or an amount of grass in the area. The observation devices are operatively connected to the control system for transmitting a signal from the observation means to the control system. The control system is designed to receive and process the signal from the observation means to determine the magnitude and/or the moment of the next move of the movable demarcating element.

Abstract: An evaporative heat exchanger is provided with a working channel that has primary and secondary surfaces and a plurality of product channels. The product channels have primary and secondary surfaces. A liquid supply provides an evaporative liquid to the secondary surfaces. A product fluid may circulate through the product channels in heat exchanging contact with the primary surfaces thereof. The primary surface of the working channel is in flow communication with the secondary surfaces of both the working channel and the product channels such that a working fluid may flow first over a primary surface of the working channel and subsequently over the secondary surfaces where it absorbs liquid by evaporation.

Abstract: A method of feeding an animal in a feeding box including in no particular order, at least the actions of: a) registering the presence of the animal in the feeding box, b) closing the feeding box and locking the feeding box in such a way that access to the feeding box is impeded for an animal outside the feeding box, c) supplying feed to the animal in the feeding box in a chosen eating period of time. For an animal that does not leave the feeding box after an initially chosen eating period of time has elapsed, the initially chosen eating period of time beginning immediately after the performance of step b), within a first waiting time span chosen contiguously to said period of time, in which the animal is given the possibility of leaving the feeding box, step c) is repeated at least once.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device for stimulating plant growth. The lighting device has a solid state light source, suitable for emitting light of at least one wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range. Furthermore, the solid state light source is adapted for connection to an electrical network. The solid state light source is in contact with a cooling medium. In an embodiment, this cooling medium has a temperature in a temperature range between ?50 and 0° C.

Abstract: An installation for supplying liquid feed to an animal, such as a calf. The installation comprises one or more feed loading places (1) and one or more feed unloading places (2-5), and one or more vehicles (9) that are autonomously displaceable, controlled by a microprocessor or the like, between one or more feed loading places and one or more feed unloading places, each vehicle comprising a drinking nozzle (10), such as a flexible teat.

Abstract: An agricultural machine for crop processing, the agricultural machine being provided with a drawbar that is connectable to a pulling vehicle, at least one crop processing member that is pivotably fastened to the drawbar, and a hydraulic lift cylinder for pivoting the crop processing member upwards relative to the drawbar, one side of the lift cylinder being fastened to the crop processing member and its other side to the drawbar, the lift cylinder comprising a first cylinder housing connected to the crop processing member, a second cylinder housing connected to the drawbar and a common piston rod connecting the two cylinder housings and being slidably included therein, the active internal surface of the first cylinder housing being larger than the active internal surface of the second cylinder housing.

Abstract: A valve provided with a passage for conveying a medium, the passage having at least a first closable aperture, and with a closing device that is suitable for closing at least the first aperture. The valve is provided with a holder element that is movably included in a holder element house chamber of the holder element house. The closing device is capable of being supported by the holder element or forms an integrated part of the holder element, and the closing device is controllable by the medium. The holder element is controllable, only by the medium, for releasing at least the first aperture by means of the closing device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting arrangement for illuminating a surface. The lighting arrangement has a supporting element and a lighting unit (1) which is supported by the supporting element. The lighting unit (1) has a housing (2) which is designed to accommodate a solid-state light source (4). The housing is also transparent on at least one side. The solid-state light source (4) is suitable for generating light having wavelengths from a first wavelength region and a second wavelength region. The first wavelength region comprises wavelengths of 500-550 nm. The second wavelength region comprises wavelengths of 560-610 nm. The lighting unit (1) is designed to generate light having a dominant wavelength from the first wavelength region in such a way that the eye sensitivity of the human eye is dominated by rods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat sink (1) for cooling a light element. The heat sink (1) has a thermally conducting inner part (2) suitable for accommodating the light element. The heat sink (1) additionally has a thermally conducting outer part (3) which encloses the inner part in at least one plane. The at least one light element is galvanically shielded from the thermally conducting inner part. The inner part (2) and the outer part (3) can be joined to one another via at least one thermally conducting bridging link (4) in such a way that there is at least one opening (5) between the inner part (2) and the outer part (3).