Patents Assigned to THE EUROPEAN UNION
  • Patent number: 11933740
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of at least one nano or micro plastic particle comprised in a heterogeneous matrix material comprising the following steps: applying of at least one part of a heterogeneous matrix material comprising at least one nano or micro plastic particle onto at least a portion of a surface of a conductive support thereby forming a first layer onto said surface, irradiating of at least a portion of said first layer with at least one ion beam, thereby forming an irradiated layer, detecting of the at least one nano or micro plastic particle comprised in said irradiated layer by a detection method chosen from the group of Raman nanoscopic techniques, or infrared nanoscopic techniques, or charge dependent detection methods or combination thereof. The present invention allowed good detection of micro and nano plastic particles with high resolution and sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Andrea Valsesia, Grigore Rischitor, Douglas Gilliland, Jessica Ponti, Francesco Fumagalli, Monica Quarato, Pascal Colpo, Isaac Ojea Jimenez
  • Patent number: 11827384
    Abstract: A system includes a satellite structure and a dedicated Payload Attaching Fitting PAF for releasable attachment to said satellite structure. The satellite structure an external load-carrying structure; and external vertical planar panels. The external vertical planar panels have internal reinforcements or embedded structures or skin thickness reinforcements, each configured for exerting the structural reinforcement function of diagonal beams in a truss structure architecture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Aniceto Panetti, Paolo Galassi, Giuseppe Landella, Vincenzo Carofano
  • Publication number: 20220301735
    Abstract: 225actinium is produced from 226radium by irradiating a liquid 226radium target by means of protons, deuterons or gamma irradiation in an irradiation device (2) and by extracting the produced 225actinium out of the irradiated liquid target solution in a first extraction device (6). The liquid target solution from which the 225actinium has been removed is then irradiated again to produce further 225actinium therein. The liquid target solution is preferably circulated, in a closed loop (4), over the irradiation device and in a further closed loop (7) over the first extraction device (6). An advantage of such a method is that the irradiated target solution does not need to be dried and re-dissolved to be able to separate the produced actinium from the radium and no further drying and re-dissolving step is needed for producing the liquid target again starting from the separated radium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Rikard MALMBECK, Roberto CACIUFFO, Nidhu Lal BANIK
  • Patent number: 11448772
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for improving the reception of a satellite navigation message divided in several pages and transmitted by one or several satellites. A satellite navigation message M of k pages is encoded inn pages, and any k retrieved pages from any satellite enables decoding of the original satellite navigation message M. An implementation of the method uses parallel block encoding for a binary erasure channel with high parity and zero overhead, where symbols at a fixed position of all pages are encoded in parallel into shorter codes. This method achieves full page interchangeability in the message transmission, optimizes message reception and reduces decoding cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Ignacio Fernàndez-Hernàndez
  • Patent number: 11385355
    Abstract: A method carried out in a radionavigation system (2), the radionavigation system (2) comprising a receiver (4) and a radionavigation infrastructure (6), the radionavigation infrastructure comprising a plurality of satellite-borne transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??), and encryption component (10) configured for communication with the transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??) and the receiver (4). The method comprises the following, for one or more given transmitters (8) of the plurality of satellite-borne transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??). In the radionavigation infrastructure (6), a series of keys k2,i are generated in respect of a predetermined authentication interval [0,T] of duration T and commencing at t=0 and a spreading code-encrypted signal e(t) is generated from a first radionavigation signal s1(t) using a keystream K1(t), the keystream K1(t) being generated with a secret key k1 of the radionavigation infrastructure (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Ignacio Fernandez Hernandez
  • Publication number: 20220196749
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy of an electrochemical cell. The method comprises: applying a periodic perturbation with a predetermined carrier wave form on the potential or the current; simultaneously measuring an influence of the periodic perturbation on the other one of the potential or the current and a displacement or a stress of a working electrode of the electrochemical cell; extracting, using lock-in amplifiers, from the other one of the potential or the current an electrical parameter signal with the predetermined carrier wave form and from the displacement or a stress measurement signal a mechanical parameter signal with the predetermined carrier wave form. This enables measuring a response in two different physical parameters from applying a single periodic perturbation to yet another physical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: The European Union, Represented by the European Commission
    Inventors: Akos Kriston, Andreas Pfrang
  • Publication number: 20220136980
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the detection of at least one nano or micro plastic particle comprised in a heterogeneous matrix material comprising the following steps: applying of at least one part of a heterogeneous matrix material comprising at least one nano or micro plastic particle onto at least a portion of a surface of a conductive support thereby forming a first layer onto said surface, irradiating of at least a portion of said first layer with at least one ion beam, thereby forming an irradiated layer, detecting of the at least one nano or micro plastic particle comprised in said irradiated layer by a detection method chosen from the group of Raman nanoscopic techniques, or infrared nanoscopic techniques, or charge dependent detection methods or combination thereof. The present invention allowed good detection of micro and nano plastic particles with high resolution and sensitivity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Applicant: The European Union, represented by the European Commission
    Inventors: Andrea Valsesia, Grigore Rischitor, Douglas Gilliland, Jessica Ponti, Francesco Fumagalli, Monica Quarato, Pascal Colpo, Isaac Ojea Jimenez
  • Publication number: 20210221540
    Abstract: A system includes a satellite structure and a dedicated Payload Attaching Fitting PAF for releasable attachment to said satellite structure. The satellite structure an external load-carrying structure; and external vertical planar panels. The external vertical planar panels have internal reinforcements or embedded structures or skin thickness reinforcements, each configured for exerting the structural reinforcement function of diagonal beams in a truss structure architecture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: The European Union, Represented by the European Commission
    Inventors: Aniceto PANETTI, Paolo GALASSI, Giuseppe LANDELLA, Vincenzo CAROFANO
  • Publication number: 20200393569
    Abstract: Described herein is a method for improving the reception of a satellite navigation message divided in several pages and transmitted by one or several satellites. A satellite navigation message M of k pages is encoded in n pages, and any k retrieved pages from any satellite enables decoding of the original satellite navigation message M. An implementation of the method uses parallel block encoding for a binary erasure channel with high parity and zero overhead, where symbols at a fixed position of all pages are encoded in parallel into shorter codes. This method achieves full page interchangeability in the message transmission, optimizes message reception and reduces decoding cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Ignacio FERNÀNDEZ-HERNÀNDEZ
  • Publication number: 20200355018
    Abstract: A tamper prevention system comprising a storage unit is described. The storage unit comprises at least one storage compartment for storing a sealing element for containers, and a control system configured for detecting opening of the at least one storage compartment. Each storage compartment comprises a leash element connected to the control system and provided for being connected to a sealing element to be stored in the storage compartment. The control system is configured for monitoring the integrity of the leash element. The tamper prevention system comprises movement protection device configured for detecting and/or preventing movement of the storage unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2018
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Francois Littmann
  • Patent number: 10830772
    Abstract: Uses of ethyl 5,11-dihydroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole-6-carboxylate as a fluorescent ligand probe, preferably in a binding assay for quantitative analysis in combination with a recombinant aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protein. A method for detection or quantitative analysis of suspected aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands in a sample, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sample possibly containing at least one known or unknown AhR ligand; (b) mixing said sample with a composition comprising a recombinant AhR protein bound to ethyl 5,11-dihydroindolo[3,2-b]carbazole-6-carboxylate; and (c) determining the presence or the total amount of said at least one known or unknown AhR ligand in the sample by fluorescence spectroscopy. Use e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Teresa Lettieri, Valentina Elisabetta Viviana Ferrero
  • Publication number: 20200290926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thermal energy storage components comprising phase change material embedded into porous components, in particular for use in cement-based compositions. The method comprises: an impregnation step (10) comprising introducing phase change material into porous components inside a main vessel (102) by vacuum impregnation; an injection step (12) at a temperature within a melting temperature range of said phase change material and under an overpressure, in order vacuuming to force the phase change material into the porous components; and an entrapment step (14) comprising reducing the temperature inside the main vessel, while maintaining an the overpressure, in order to lower the viscosity of said phase change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Applicant: The European Union, Represented by the European Commission
    Inventors: Marco Gianni Luigi LAMPERTI TORNAGHI, Alessio CAVERZAN
  • Patent number: 10732290
    Abstract: A radio navigation system (100; 400), comprising a plurality of satellite-borne transmitters (110, 114, 118, 122) and at least one ground-based receiver (104), the receiver (104) being adapted to receive radionavigation signals (112, 116, 120, 124; 412, 416, 420, 424) from each of a plurality of the transmitters (110, 114, 118, 122). Each of the transmitters (110, 114, 118, 122) and the receiver (104) being adapted to access a predetermined first key chain, the first key chain comprising a first encryption key (K; Kj) and one or more further encryption keys (K; Kj,1, Kj,2, Kj,3, Kj,4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Ignacio Fernandez Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10677928
    Abstract: A method of processing offset carrier modulated, OCM, ranging signals in a radionavigation system including a plurality of satellite-borne transmitters and at least one ground-based receiver includes receiving a first radionavigation signal from at least one of the plurality of satellite-borne transmitters and down-converting and digitizing the first radionavigation signal to derive therefrom a first OCM signal SA, receiving a second signal SB synchronously broadcast with the first OCM signal SA, the second signal SB having the same or substantially the same center frequency as the first OCM signal SA, coherently combining the first OCM signal SA with the second signal SB at the receiver to generate a combined signal SC, generating a combined correlation value YC corresponding to a correlation of the combined signal SC with a local replica of the first OCM signal SC, and deriving ranging information based on the combined correlation value YC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: James T. Curran, Matteo Paonni, Michele Bavaro, Joaquim Fortuny-Guasch
  • Patent number: 10663601
    Abstract: The invention provides an atmospheric monitoring and measurement system based on the processing of global navigation satellite system radio-frequency signals. The invention is characterized by an open-loop demodulation architecture to extract amplitude and phase information from the received satellite signals, and a signal processing technique which can provide statistics relating to the amplitude and phase variations induced by the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION
    Inventors: James T Curran, Michele Bavaro, Joaquim Fortuny-Guasch
  • Publication number: 20190369262
    Abstract: A method carried out in a radionavigation system (2), the radionavigation system (2) comprising a receiver (4) and a radionavigation infrastructure (6), the radionavigation infrastructure comprising a plurality of satellite-borne transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??), and encryption component (10) configured for communication with the transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??) and the receiver (4). The method comprises the following, for one or more given transmitters (8) of the plurality of satellite-borne transmitters (8, 8?, 8?, 8??). In the radionavigation infrastructure (6), a series of keys k2,i are generated in respect of a predetermined authentication interval [0, T] of duration T and commencing at t=0 and a spreading code-encrypted signal e(t) is generated from a first radionavigation signal s (t) using a keystream K1(t), the keystream K1(t) being generated with a secret key k1 of the radionavigation infrastructure (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: The European Union, Represented by the European Commission
    Inventor: Ignacio FERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ
  • Patent number: 10408727
    Abstract: A nanoparticle screening chip and a method using said chip allowing for determining physical properties of nanoparticles, wherein the screening chip comprises a substrate having a working surface divided into a plurality of areas, wherein (1) each of these areas presents different surface properties defined by surface energy component (d,b,a), the total free energy ?TOT of the surface of each area being defined as follows: ?TOT=?LW+2(?+??)0.5, wherein the components are: ?LW=dispersive component=d, ?+=electron acceptor component=b, ??=electron donor component=a; and (2) each of these areas comprises a plurality of subareas, each subarea comprising an array of sub-micrometric holes or elongated grooves with a different aperture size (S1, S2, S3, . . . ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventors: Andrea Valsesia, Cloé Desmet, Pascal Colpo, François Rossi
  • Publication number: 20180266932
    Abstract: A nanoparticle screening chip and a method using said chip allowing for determining physical properties of nanoparticles, wherein the screening chip comprises a substrate having a working surface divided into a plurality of areas, wherein (1) each of these areas presents different surface properties defined by surface energy component (d,b,a), the total free energy ?TOT of the surface of each area being defined as follows: ?TOT=?LW+2(?+??)0.5, wherein the components are: ?LW=dispersive component=d, ?+=electron acceptor component=b, ??=electron donor component=a; and (2) each of these areas comprises a plurality of subareas, each subarea comprising an array of sub-micrometric holes or elongated grooves with a different aperture size (S1, S2, S3, . . . ).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Applicant: The European Union,representedby the European Commission
    Inventors: Andrea VALSESIA, Cloé DESMET, Pascal COLPO, François ROSSI
  • Patent number: 10024769
    Abstract: A diffusive sampling device (1) comprises a porous hollow diffusion body (3) removably held on a support body (2), an adsorbent body (4) located inside said diffusion body (3), wherein the hollow diffusion body (3) has a cylindrically shaped wall with an upper section comprising a closed upper end and a distal lower section comprising an open lower end and wherein the diffusion body (3) is held on the support body (2) by means of one or more o-rings (7) fixed to its lower section, wherein the adsorbent body (4) is kept in a predetermined place inside the upper section of the diffusion body (3) by way of an elastic means, such as a spring (6). The use of such devices as well as a method for air sampling and monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Pascual Perez Ballesta
  • Patent number: 9952325
    Abstract: The invention introduces “crossed” navigation message authentication, which comprises a) generation and transmission of unpredictable bits periodically from satellites currently not connected to the ground mission segment and b) generation of digital signatures for the data from these satellites, and the transmission thereof through satellites that currently are connected to the ground mission segment. An attacker cannot spoof the navigation message as it contains an unpredictable bit pattern that is verified a few seconds later through a digital signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: THE EUROPEAN UNION, REPRESENTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
    Inventor: Ignacio Fernandez-Hernandez