Abstract: Embodiments relate to an X-ray interferometer for imaging an object comprising: a phase grating for effecting in correspondence with the phase grating geometry a phase shift to at least a part of X-ray incident onto the phase grating; and an absorption grating for effecting in correspondence with the absorption grating geometry absorption to at least a part of X-ray incident onto the absorption grating. The grating period of the phase grating, and the grating period of the absorption grating may be dimensioned such that a detector for X-rays can be placed at a relatively large distance away from the absorption grating such the phase contrast sensitivity of the image of the object detected by the detector remains substantially unaffected.

Abstract: A liquid-based metering device includes: at least one dispensing tip, a non-positive displacement and bi-directional pump for dispensing a liquid, a differential pressure flow sensing device including two pressure sensors, a control circuit for driving the pump and the dispensing operation, wherein the pressure sensors of the differential pressure flow sensing device are facing a substrate and are mounted on the substrate, and the substrate includes the electrical connections for the connection of the pressure sensors, the pressure sensors including membranes which are facing the liquid and the control circuit being connected to the pump and to the substrate.

Abstract: Portable equipment including in combination a heart rate measuring device and a sound reproduction unit including means for supplying a signal representative of the sound reproduction and for supplying sound information to a sound transducer, wherein said measuring device and said sound transducer are mounted at least in part in an assembly adapted to be fixed to an ear of a wearer of the equipment and, wherein said sound reproduction unit includes means for optionally substituting for and/or superimposing on said signal representative of said sound reproduction a signal generated from signals from said measuring device and representative of said heart rate. The equipment can take the form of a walkman, for example, or a hearing aid for the hard of hearing.

Abstract: An in phase quadrature signal generator including a phase shifter (1) that receives at an input terminal (2) an input signal (Vin) supplied to phase shifting means (3,4) formed of passive elements, arranged for delivering at first and second output terminals, first (Out—I) and second (Out—Q) in phase quadrature signals. This generator is characterised in that it further includes, between the phase shifting means and the output terminals, transconductor means (11, 12) having a transconductance proportional to the passive elements, arranged so as to obtain a transfer function between said first and second in phase quadrature signals independent of said passive elements.

Abstract: The invention concerns in one aspect a CBN abrasive tool comprising a metal, ceramic or cemented carbide substrate and a single layer of CBN grits bonded to said substrate by a brazing alloy, characterized in that the surface chemistry of said CBN grits is modified by depositing thereon a film of silicon carbide. The invention also concerns, in another aspect, a method of manufacturing a CBN abrasive tool comprising the steps of providing a metal, ceramic or cemented carbide substrate; providing a plurality of CBN grits; depositing a film of silicon carbide on said CBN grits; and, bonding the carbide film-coated CBN grits to said substrate by a brazing alloy.