Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid fuel composition comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons and a cyclic hydrocarbon compound that suppresses the emission of soot particulates. The present invention also relates to a method for reducing the emission of soot particulates in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. It is desirable for the cyclic hydrocarbon compound to contain one or more oxygen atoms.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) device is provided that includes a converter, having a switched mode topology, where the switched mode topology includes a boost topology that establishes a variable transfer ratio between a variable input voltage and a variable output voltage of the converter, where the switched mode topology changes according to a power load on a power generator. The MPPT device further includes a control section, where the control section maximizes an output power of the power generator by controlling the variable transfer ratio, where the MPPT device optimizes an electrical operating point, of the power generator.

Abstract: A device for verifying at least one challenge-response pair includes a coherent light source configured to emit coherent light. A challenge creating device is configured to create an optical challenge to be sent to a physically unclonable function (PUF). A wavefront shaping device is configured to perform a verification based on an optical response from the physically unclonable function (PUF). A detector is configured to read out a result of the verification performed by the wavefront shaping device. A focusing device is configured to focus light exiting from the wavefront shaping device onto the detector for detection.

Abstract: A magnetic positioning device is provided that includes a first cup-shape permanent magnet having at least one permanent magnet segment conforming to the first cup-shape, where the first cup-shape permanent magnet has a first polarity, a second cup-shape permanent magnet that includes at least one permanent magnet segment conforming to the second cup-shape, where the second cup-shape permanent magnet segment has a second polarity, where the second cup-shape permanent magnet is disposed concentric to the first cup-shape permanent magnet, where the first polarity is the opposite of the second polarity or the first polarity is the same as the second polarity, where a gap separates the first cup-shape permanent magnet from the second cup-shape permanent magnet, and a connection feature, where the connection feature is disposed on the second cup-shape permanent magnet, where the connection feature is configured to connect a lever arm to the second cup-shape permanent magnet.

Abstract: A snow compression and removal device is provided that includes a horizontal auger supported within a concave snow plow, a pump having an input disposed at a first end of the auger and an opening at a second end, a compression module first end disposed at an output of the pump, where the compression module includes a tubular casing having a snow inlet and a snow outlet, where the snow outlet has a converging or straight cross-section tubular shape that is perforated with air holes, and a conveyor screw, where the conveyor screw rotates on an axis that is disposed concentric to the tubular casing and spans from the snow inlet to the outlet and is powered to move and compact snow from the inlet to the outlet, where air from the snow is exhausted through the air holes, where the compressed snow is output.

Abstract: Designs for modular microsurgical robotic devices and systems are provided, which could include one or multiple master-slave units coupled to a central microscope-based suspension structure. One of the main objectives is to provide robotic assistance during tasks which require long-term user concentration and high precision. The microsurgical robotic devices pay attention to motion scaling and tremor filtration in a 6 Degrees-of-Freedom (DOF) master-slave setup with force feedback. An extra DOF is included to actuate a 1-DOF instrument tip. Embodiments of this invention can be used in the medical environment as well as in other areas such as printed circuit board repair, watch and jewelry making, laboratory tasks, or other areas which require high precision over extended periods of time.

Abstract: A completely digital optical receiver is provided. The optical receiver includes a photodiode configured to provide a photodiode output responsive to an on-off keyed (OOK) optical input. Two or more digital inverters connected in series with each other are configured to receive the photodiode output and provide an amplified digital output. A digital clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit receives the amplified digital output and provides a clock output and a data output. A digital photodiode discharging circuit is connected to the photodiode and controlled by the clock output of the CDR circuit.

Abstract: A method and device for interconnecting stacked die surfaces with electrically conductive traces is provided that includes bonding, using a first layer of a photoresist compound, a second die (2) on top of a first die (1), heating the first layer above a pyrolyzation point of the photoresist compound, where the photoresist compound transitions to a stable layer, depositing a second layer of the photoresist compound (PR), using lithography, from a top surface of the first die (1) to a top surface of the second die (2), heating the second photoresist compound layer to a liquid state, where the liquid photoresist compound forms a smooth convex bridge between the first die (1) top surface and the second die (2) top surface, and depositing an electrically conductive layer on the smooth convex bridge, where an electrically conductive trace is formed between the first die (1) top surface and the second die (2) top surface.

Abstract: A snow removal system is provided that includes a compression module having a tubular casing with an inlet, and an outlet having a converging cross-sectional surface area shape and air-hole perforations, a conveyor screw concentric to the casing spanning from the inlet to the outlet is powered to move and compact the snow at the outlet, a conveyor belt moves the output snow away from the compression module at a velocity v1, a moveable truss houses the conveyor belt and supports the compression module, the device contacts a snow-covered surface and the truss moves at a velocity v2 perpendicular to the snowplow, where v1 is great enough to move the snow from the compression module when the truss moves at a velocity v2, the conveyor screw turns at a rate that to incorporate V1 and v2 to ensure the conveyor belt capacity is not exceeded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a preform by means of an electrospinning process. The present invention also relates to the use of the present preform as a substrate for growing human or animal tissue thereon. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for growing human or animal tissue on a substrate, wherein the present preform is used as the substrate.

Abstract: An interference-free communication system having a central communication controller (CCC) with a wavelength-tunable light source that emits a tunable wavelength optical data signal, and controls the wavelength-tunable light source by conditioning, modulation and wavelength-tuning, the CCC includes a signal-transparent optical crossconnect and fiber optic network, a pencil-radiating antenna (PRA) that is a passive 2-dimensional diffractive module is coupled to the wavelength-tunable light source via the fiber optic network, the crossconnect routes the optical data signal to the PRA, the optical data signal is transmitted through a confined optical pencil beam, the PRA deflects the pencil beam in 2 angular dimensions as a function of a wavelength of the pencil beam, the deflected pencil beam is disposed for communication with an opto-electronic communication device, and a radio return channel that provides upstream communication from the communication device to the CCC includes a lack-of-connection communicatio

Abstract: A vibration isolator is provided comprising a base structure, a load structure and at least one vertical air gap formed by opposing and substantially parallel walls of the base structure and the load structure. The opposing walls being at least partly covered by respective arrays of permanent magnets, neighboring magnets in the arrays having alternating magnetization directions, an arrangement of the permanent magnets in the arrays being such that a gravitational force on the load structure is substantially compensated by a net magnetic force of the base structure on the load structure.

Abstract: A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) device is provided that includes a converter, having a switched mode topology, where the switched mode topology includes a boost topology that establishes a variable transfer ratio between a variable input voltage and a variable output voltage of the converter, where the switched mode topology changes according to a power load on a power generator. The MPPT device further includes a control section, where the control section maximizes an output power of the power generator by controlling the variable transfer ratio, where the MPPT device optimizes an electrical operating point of the power generator.

Abstract: The invention relates to using a perfusion scanning medical imaging technique to generate an image of a perfusable structure of an organism. A fluid is flowing through the structure, and a dose of a traceable agent is present in the fluid. The evolution of the spatial concentration of the agent, e.g., a set of values of the magnitude of the concentration assumed at various moments over a period of time, is determined for a plurality of locations within the structure. The spatial pattern of the evolutions is analyzed and an image is generated on the basis of this analysis in order to enable the medical practitioner to draw conclusions about the dispersion characteristics of the perfusable structure.

Abstract: A system for processing an image data volume acquired with a medical imaging acquisition device 100 from a body comprising a needle is provided. It has been realized it is advantageous to display 150 a plane intersecting the image data volume showing the needle to a user of the system. This allows better positioning of the needle. The system comprises a needle-plane determination 110 module for determining a plane being parallel to and intersecting a representation in the image data volume of the needle and being parallel to a viewing direction. The needle plane determination module may make use of pixel processing and/or spectral transformation, in particular the Gabor transform.

Abstract: The invention relates a multilayer preform obtained by electro-spinning, which preform is suitable as a scaffold for a prosthesis, which preform comprises at least one layer of microfibers and at least one layer of nanofibers, wherein the pore size of the at least one layer of microfibers is in the range of 1-300 micrometer and in that the pore size of the at least one layer of nanofibers is in the range of 1-300 micrometer. The present invention also relates to a method of producing said preform. The present invention also relates to the use of the present preform as a substrate for growing human or animal tissue thereon. The present invention furthermore relates to a method for growing human or animal tissue on a substrate, wherein the present preform is used as the substrate.

Abstract: An optical polarization converter device includes a first polarization converter section [1100] and a second polarization converter section [1102], which have mirror image cross-sections of each other and which are made of a common material and have orientation (i.e., tilt) errors equal in magnitude and opposite in sign. Preferably, one section has half, the other one and a half times the length of an original (single section, non-tolerant) polarization converter, i.e., the lengths of the two sections have a ratio of 1:3. Other embodiments include length ratios of 3:5 and 5:7. In addition to correcting fabrication errors, the polarization converter also corrects errors due to temperature and wavelength, improving the tolerance with respect to operational conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical robot for performing surgery of the minimally invasive type, comprising an instrument manipulator having a manipulator front end which is provided with an instrument receiver for receiving therein one of a number of surgical instruments, and manipulating means for, at least in use, manipulating the manipulator front end with respect to a patient body. The manipulator front end further comprises a container having a number of container holders for receiving therein the number of surgical instruments, and switching means for switching the instrument present in the instrument receiver by an instrument present in a container holder. The invention further relates to an instrument manipulator, a combination of an operating table and a surgical robot, and a master-slave operating system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a liquid fuel composition comprising a mixture of hydrocarbons and a cyclic hydrocarbon compound that suppresses the emission of soot particulates. The present invention also relates to a method for reducing the emission of soot particulates in the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. It is desirable for the cyclic hydrocarbon compound to contain one or more oxygen atoms.

Abstract: A successive operation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuit includes a bit reliability circuit that detects a delay time of the voltage comparator and, if the detected delay time is greater than a delay threshold time ?MV, outputs a bit reliability decision signal; a digital noise reduction circuit that is selectively activated if the bit reliability decision signal indicates the detected delay time is greater than the delay threshold time ?MV and produces a noise-reduced decision output that supersedes the decision output of the voltage comparator. In a preferred embodiment, the digital noise reduction circuit uses a multiple voting logic to produce a majority vote value as the noise-reduced decision output.