Abstract: A method of encoding fixed length data bit strings includes receiving and sequentially encoding a sequence of data bit strings. For a data bit string immediately following a preceding data bit string, this includes obtaining a reference bit string, and a mask bit string and a tracking bit string as present at the end of a previous encoding of the preceding data bit string, identifying bits that differ form corresponding bits in the reference bit string, determining, as unpredictable bits, all those bits in the data bit string that are indicated as not predictable by the mask bit string and are not in bit positions indicated by the tracking bit string, generating a sequence of position indicators, generating an encoded data packet that includes representations of values of the unpredictable bits and the sequence of positon indicators, and periodically updating the mask bit string and the tracking bit string.

Abstract: A product display merchandiser comprising a base configured to be coupled to a shelving unit, a tray defined by at least one sidewall, wherein the tray is movable relative to the base, a lens positioned at a front end of the tray, and a lighting element configured to illuminate the lens. A retrofitting system comprising a light pipe and a body for connecting the light pipe to a merchandiser.

Abstract: A measurement arrangement for measuring process and structure parameters of a fiber composite material along a measuring path includes a fiber material, a matrix material which surrounds the fiber material at least in regions, and an electrical sensor element that includes at least two signal transmission lines twisted together and aligned along the measuring path in and/or at the fiber material such that the signal transmission lines are surrounded at least in portions by the matrix material, wherein the electrical sensor element is configured to measure the process and structure parameters on the basis of the behavior of electromagnetic signals that are fed into the signal transmission lines.

Abstract: A spacecraft includes a power train that includes a solar array, an electric propulsion subsystem, and a power conversion module. The power conversion module receives power from the solar array at a voltage, Vi; and delivers power to the electric propulsion subsystem at a voltage, Vo. The spacecraft is configured to operate at a varying distance, D, from the sun within the range of Dmin to Dmax, Dmax being at least 1.3×Dmin. The solar array is configured to deliver power to the power conversion module at a voltage approximately equal to Vo when the spacecraft is proximate to Dmax.

Abstract: A spacecraft, reconfigurable from a launch configuration to an on-orbit configuration, includes a main body structure, a manipulator, a first deployable rigid reflector and an attachment arrangement, including at least one hold-down assembly (HDA). In the launch configuration, the HDA is in a fully engaged configuration such that the attachment arrangement mechanically attaches the first reflector with the spacecraft main body structure and prevents relative motion between the first reflector and the spacecraft main body. Reconfiguring the spacecraft from the launch configuration to the on-orbit configuration includes (i) actuating the HDA from the fully engaged configuration to a partially engaged configuration; (ii) grasping and moving the first reflector, with the manipulator, a distance in the first direction; and (iii) moving the first reflector from a first position proximate to the attachment arrangement to a second position proximate to a deployed position associated with the on-orbit configuration.

Abstract: A directional coupler (100) comprises two hollow bodies (200, 201) forming two waveguide portions. Each hollow body has an open end arranged at a first side (10) of the hollow body and another open end arranged at a second side (20) of the hollow body opposite to the first side in a longitudinal direction (30) of the hollow body. The hollow body has a first cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A second cross section along the longitudinal direction defines a first plane of propagation of the electric field. The two waveguide portions have a common wall along the longitudinal direction (30) forming a septum (400) between the two waveguide portions on a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The septum has an aperture (410) for coupling the two waveguide portions. The aperture has a shape comprising a part (420) slanted with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An analysis system for an aviation radiation dose includes: a proton spectrum generator which generates a galactic cosmic ray incident on the Earth's atmosphere and a proton spectrum corresponding to a solar proton event; a global radiation dose map producer which generates-particle transport and produces a radiation dose map; a global radiation dose map converter which converts the radiation dose map based on a standard atmosphere into a radiation dose map corresponding to current atmosphere conditions in real time; and a database in which data necessary for operations of the proton spectrum generator, the global radiation dose map producer and the global radiation dose map converter is previously calculated and stored, thereby having an effect on estimating any radiation route dose if information about an arbitrary path and time is given.

Abstract: A modular building unit for construction of a building comprises a structural frame 40 suitable for interconnection to another modular building unit in construction of the building; and a stud frame wall 80/82 internal to and fixed to the frame. The modular building unit is suitable for handling as a shipping container for transport.

Abstract: An apparatus for launching, recovering, transporting, and storing vehicles is disclosed. The apparatus stabilizes the vehicle while it is in operation or inactive and has a frame connected to at least one stabilizer. In certain configurations, the apparatus stabilizes the vehicle without using the vehicle's onboard landing gear. The apparatus may also include at least one pad connected to the apparatus.

Abstract: A method of communication with a non-GEO constellation of satellites, includes providing an Earth-based terminal configured for communication with a satellite constellation, and establishing communication between the Earth-based terminal and a non-GEO constellation of satellites, the non-GEO constellation of satellites including a first plurality of satellites orbiting at a first inclination, wherein each of the satellites in the first plurality of satellites is in a discrete planar orbit to form a first snake of satellites, the first snake of satellites including adjacent satellites in adjacent orbits having adjacent RAAN (Right Ascension of the Ascending Node), wherein the Earth-based terminal is positioned and configured for continuous communication with at least one satellite from the non-GEO constellation of satellites.

Abstract: A spatial indexing system receives a video that is a sequence of frames depicting an environment, such as a floor of a construction site, and performs a spatial indexing process to automatically identify the spatial locations at which each of the images were captured. The spatial indexing system also generates an immersive model of the environment and provides a visualization interface that allows a user to view each of the images at its corresponding location within the model.

Abstract: A laying unit for producing a fiber composite component includes a drive device which is formed for magnetic cooperation with a running face, which provides a magnetic field and/or is ferromagnetic, to advance the laying unit on the running face. A device for producing a fiber composite component including a laying unit of this type and a method for producing a fiber composite component including a device of this type are disclosed.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed towards a system and method for calculating ionospheric scintillation includes calculating a motion-corrected perturbation of a GNSS radio signal received by a monitoring device deployed in an oceanic environment.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a receiver included in a communications system includes a channel extractor configured to segregate a received signal into a plurality of channel signals, wherein the plurality of channel signals includes a plurality of data signals; a plurality of phase shifters electrically coupled to the channel extractor and configured to decode each data signal of the plurality of data signals with a respective phase; and a plurality of time delay filters electrically coupled to the plurality of phase shifters and configured to decode each data signal of the plurality of data signals with a respective time delay, wherein the plurality of time delay filters outputs each subset of the plurality of data signals in a respective channel of the plurality of channels.

Abstract: A metallization method for a semiconductor wafer having at least the steps: providing a semiconductor wafer having a top side and a bottom side and comprising a plurality of solar cell stacks, wherein each solar cell stack has a Ge substrate forming the bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, a Ge subcell, and at least two III-V subcells in the order mentioned, as well as at least one through-hole, extending from the top side to the bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, with a continuous side wall and a circumference that is oval in cross section, applying a photoresist layer in certain areas as a resist pattern by means of a printing method to the top side and/or to bottom side of the semiconductor wafer, applying a metal layer in a planar manner to exposed regions of the surface of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A stacked multijunction solar cell having a dielectric insulating layer system, a germanium substrate, which forms an underside of the multijunction solar cell, a germanium subcell and at least two III-V subcells, which follow each other in the specified order, the insulating layer system includes a layer sequence made up of at least one bottom insulating layer, which is integrally connected to a first surface section of the multijunction solar cell and a top insulating layer forming an upper side of the insulating layer system, and a metal coating of the multijunction solar cell is integrally and electrically conductively connected to a second surface section abutting the first surface section of the multijunction solar cell and is integrally connected to a section of the upper side of the insulating layer system, and the top insulating layer comprises amorphous silicon or is made up of amorphous silicon.

Abstract: A dicing method for separating a wafer comprising a plurality of solar cells stack along at least one parting line, at least having the steps of: providing the wafer with a top, a bottom, an adhesive layer which is integrally bonded with the top and a cover glass layer which is integrally bonded with the adhesive layer, wherein the wafer includes a plurality of solar cell stacks, each having a germanium substrate layer forming the bottom of the wafer, a germanium sub-cell and at least two III-V sub-cells; creating a separating trench along the parting line by means of laser ablation, which extends from a bottom of the wafer through the wafer and the adhesive layer at least up to a top of the cover glass layer; and dividing the cover glass layer along the separating trench.

Abstract: A passivation method for a passage opening of a wafer, at least having the steps of: providing a wafer having a top, a bottom and comprising a plurality of solar cell stacks, wherein each solar cell stack has a Ge substrate that forms the bottom of the wafer, a Ge sub-cell, at least two III-V sub-cells, in the named order, and at least one passage opening extending from the top to the bottom of the wafer, with a contiguous side wall and a circumference that is oval in cross section, and applying a dielectric insulating layer by means of chemical vapor deposition to the top of the wafer, the bottom of the wafer and the side wall of the passage opening.

Abstract: A marking method for applying a unique identification to each individual solar cell stack of a semiconductor wafer, at least comprising the steps: Providing a semiconductor wafer having an upper side and an underside, which comprises a Ge substrate forming the underside; and generating an identification with a unique topography by means of laser ablation, using a first laser, on a surface area of the underside of each solar cell stack of the semiconductor wafer, the surface area being formed in each case by the Ge substrate or by an insulating layer covering the Ge substrate.