Abstract: A hollow structure like a pipeline is inspected using an array of ultrasound transmitters located within the hollow structure distributed over different radial directions from a center of the array. Parameters such as ellipticity, defining a shape and/or orientation of an inner surface of a wall of the hollow structure are first determined based on measured delays between transmission of ultrasound pulses from the transmitters to reception of first reflections of those ultrasound pulses. Parameters may be used that define an elliptically shaped cross-section of the inner wall surface for example. Next an ultrasound wavefront composed of joint transmissions from the transmitters along at least a sector of the array is transmitted, using relative time delays between waves transmitted by the respective ones of the transmitters to compensate for estimated differences between travel times from the transmitters to the shape defined by the parameters. Reflections of the joint transmissions are detected.

Abstract: The invention is directed at a method of performing scanning probe microscopy on a substrate surface using a scanning probe microscopy system, the system including at least one probe head, the probe head comprising a probe tip arranged on a cantilever and a tip position detector for determining a position of the probe tip along a z-direction transverse to an image plane, the method comprising: positioning the at least one probe head relative to the substrate surface; moving the probe tip and the substrate surface relative to each other in one or more directions parallel to the image plane for scanning of the substrate surface with the probe tip; and determining the position of the probe tip with the tip position detector during said scanning for mapping nanostructures on the substrate surface; wherein said step of positioning is performed by placing the at least one probe head on a static carrier surface.

Abstract: A qubit system is provided wherein successive sets of M RF pulses are generated simultaneously, for application to qubit circuits in a plurality of N groups of M qubit circuits. M switching multiplexer circuits are used, each to pass a respective one of the M RF pulses in the set to a selected one of a plurality of N M to one RF combiners in a multiplexing mode. Combined RF pulses at M different RF frequencies are transmitted from each of the N combiners to a transmission structure for a respective one of the groups. Individual ones of the combined RF pulses are coupled from the transmission structure for the group to respective ones of the qubit circuits of the groups via respective frequency selective filters. In a broadcast mode the M switching multiplexer circuits are used to transmit the simultaneous pulses to all of RF combiners.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a security method and system in a telecommunications network comprising a radio access network system and a core network system. The radio access network system is configured to provide a wireless radio interface for at least one user device, wherein a shared secret key is stored in both the user device and the core network system. At least one vector is received from the core network system comprising one or more values derived from the shared secret key. At least one of an authentication procedure and a key agreement procedure is performed in the radio access network system for the user device over the wireless radio interface using the one or more values of the received vector for establishing a connection between the user device and the radio access network system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for non-invasive data acquisition from a human or animal body 7, comprising an antenna for irradiating a portion of the body, said antenna being connected to a source and a processor for collecting the data pursuant to the irradiation, wherein the antenna is a leaky wave antenna 1, 2, 3, 4 operable using a dielectric layer, the system being configurable so that the portion of the body 7 is at least partially used for the dielectric layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a chemical conversion process and to a process for removing particles from a reaction mixture. The chemical conversion process of the invention includes plasmonic heating of a reaction mixture having at least a one component and plasmonic particles, by exposing the reaction mixture to light having one or more wavelengths which are absorbed by at least part of the plasmonic particles, thereby controlling the reaction rate of one or more chemical reactions.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an apparatus (10) and method for reading out an optical chip (20). A light source (13) is arranged for emitting single mode source light (S1) from its emitter surface (A1) towards an optical input (21) of the optical chip (20). A light detector (14) is arranged for receiving measurement light (S2) impinging onto its receiver surface (A2) from an optical output (22) of the optical chip (20), and measuring said received measurement light (S2). The emitted source light (S1) is aligned to enter the optical input (21) of the optical chip (20) and the measurement light (S2) is aligned back onto the receiver surface (A2). The receiver surface (A2) is larger than the emitter surface (A1) for facilitating the overall alignment.

Abstract: The invention relates to an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) system comprising a multi-layered structure having at least two reflective interfaces, and a semiconducting organic layer sandwiched between first and second electrodes; wherein at least one of the reflective interfaces is semi-transparent to form a microcavity in between the two reflective interfaces; wherein a layer is provided in the microcavity between an electrode and a reflective interface that is formed of a photoactive birefringent material; and wherein the photoactive birefringent material is selectively activated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a message distribution system configured to provide traffic messages received by at least one base station of a telecommunications network to at least one traffic control system capable of controlling traffic infrastructure. The message distribution system comprises a detection module and a routing module. The detection module is configured to detect traffic messages from user devices in a radio coverage area of the at least one base station. The routing module is configured to access association information associating at least one routing address of the at least one traffic control system with the radio coverage area of the at least one base station and to route the detected traffic messages to the at least one routing address associated with the radio coverage area of the at least one base station receiving the traffic messages from the user devices.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for enhancing an audio recording which comprises a recording of a sound signal obtained from the play-out of an audio signal via a speaker. The audio signal, and thereby the sound signal, may represent certain audio content, e.g., a radio station or TV audio. To perform the enhancing, the recording of the sound signal is suppressed using the audio signal, thereby obtaining an intermediate audio recording. An original version of the audio content is then added to the intermediate audio recording to obtain an enhanced audio recording. This original version is generally of higher quality as it generally does not represent a background audio component but rather was purposefully recorded or generated.

Abstract: A spectroscopy device is disclosed for inline monitoring of analytes in bulk fluid streams, capable of maintaining sterile conditions. The device comprises a cassette suitable for holding a fluid analyte (151) and having a laser entry wall part and a detector wall part, the laser entry wall part arranged to be optically transparent to laser radiation of a predetermined wavelength and the detector wall part arranged to be optically transparent for spectral parts of interest. Laser transmission optics are provided to focus a laser beam to produce a breakdown plasma discharge within the fluid inside the cassette. A photodetector substrate is provided comprising an array of photosensors, tuned to detect characteristic emission lines from the plasma. The photodetector substrate is conformal to at least the detector wall part of the cassette. A placement provision is arranged for user removable placement of the cassette.

Abstract: Methods and systems for inter-destination synchronization in first and second receivers for content parts associated with a play-out timeline are disclosed. First timing information comprising first content part identifiers and associated first clock times may be determined, where the first receiver may receive a first content part identifier comprising first fingerprints for identifying a first content part in a first media stream. Second timing information comprising second content part identifiers and associated second clock times may be determined, where the second receiver may receive a second content part identifier identifying a second content part in a second media stream based on the first and second timing information. A timing difference in processing a content part in the first and second media streams may be calculated. Based on the timing difference, synchronization information for inter destination synchronization between said first and second streams may be generated.

Abstract: A radiation sensor device is disclosed for use with a radiation source, capable of emitting radiation with photon energies larger than the work function of the target comprising a target plate to be impacted by the radiation to generate photo-electrons, the target plate being electrically isolated from a shielding electrode. The shielding electrode is arranged to collect energy-filtered photo-electrons from the target plate, using an electrostatic barrier for the filtering. The target plate is constructed of a carbon material. A current measurement device is operative to keep the target plate at a preset voltage difference with respect to the shielding electrode and measure a photo-electron deficit current as a result of radiation impact on the target plate.

Abstract: A slot-die coating apparatus for manufacturing a patterned coating layer (3) on a substrate (1) comprises a substrate carrier (6), a coating device, a sensor facility (70) and a controller (80). The substrate carrier (6) is arranged on a support for providing the substrate (1). The coating device comprises a head-side unit and a support-side unit (50, 55; 52 resp.) that are mutually movable with respect to each other by a motor (52, 56). The head-side unit comprises a translator part (52) and a slot-die coating head (2). The support-side unit (55) comprises a stator part (56) of the motor. The controller (80) controls the motor (52) to position the slot-die coating head at a desired distance (Ds). The support-side unit (55) has a mass that is at least equal to the mass of the head-side unit (50), and the support-side unit (55) is flexibly coupled to the support (60).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of converting thermal energy into mechanical energy wherein a working liquid such as is evaporated to generate a stream of a working fluid. According to the invention, the stream of the working fluid is a stream of pressurized distillate produced by evaporation and condensation using a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) unit, said stream of pressurized distillate having a pressure of at least one bar, and a converter such as a turbine is used for generating mechanical energy from said stream of said pressurized distillate. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a security method and system in a telecommunications network comprising a radio access network system and a core network system. The radio access network system is configured to provide a wireless radio interface for at least one user device, wherein a shared secret key is stored in both the user device and the core network system. At least one vector is received from the core network system comprising one or more values derived from the shared secret key. At least one of an authentication procedure and a key agreement procedure is performed in the radio access network system for the user device over the wireless radio interface using the one or more values of the received vector for establishing a connection between the user device and the radio access network system.

Abstract: A defect monitoring system has ultrasound transmitters and receivers on a wall of a structure under test such as a pipeline. The receivers are arranged in an array of locations that substantially encloses an area under test on a wall of a structure under test. The array may comprise two circumferential rings along a pipeline at different axial positions. The array of ultrasound receivers is used to measure signals that result ultrasound that leave the area through the wall for other parts of the wall. From the measured signals backward propagated signals are computed for a location within the enclosed area, compensated for a modelled effect of propagation from the location within the area to the locations of the receivers at the perimeter. The backward propagated signals for the location in the enclosed area are summed over the locations of the receivers to obtain an approximate integral over the perimeter of the area.

Abstract: A method of repairing a steel reinforced concrete structure (100) affected by chloride induced corrosion, comprising: subjecting the reinforced concrete structure (100) to an electrochemical treatment so as to enrich material (102, 120, 140) embedding the steel reinforcement (110) with chlorides originating from corrosion pits (112) in the steel reinforcement; and replacing the material (102, 120, 140) embedding the steel reinforcement (110), which has been enriched with chlorides during the electrochemical treatment, with a repair material (124) that is relatively poor in chlorides.

Abstract: The invention is directed to the purification of gas streams comprising methane and hydrophobic pollutants. The invention provides a method for purifying a gas stream comprising methane and one or more hydrophobic pollutants comprising the steps of contacting the gas stream with a lean liquid stream comprising micelles of a surfactant or a separate surfactant phase. The resulting rich liquid stream comprises at least part of the hydrophobic pollutants. By subsequently changing the temperature of the rich liquid stream, a system of a pollutants-poor phase and a pollutants-rich phase is obtained. These phases are optionally separated and from the aqueous stream the lean liquid stream comprising micelles and/or surfactant can be regenerated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating an elongated object using a plasma process. The method comprises the steps of providing an elongated object in a planar electrode structure, and applying potential differences between electrodes of an electrode structure to generate the plasma process. Further, the method comprises at least partially surrounding the elongated object by a unitary section of the guiding structure, the electrode structure being associated with the unitary section.