Abstract: A freight container for transporting articles at a predetermined temperature is provided with a Peltier element (1) within heat isolating walls. Under control of a control module (2), the Peltier element (1) can be energized by a battery (3) in order to collect or emit heat from/to the inside of the container. The container has an outside supporting frame that keeps the container from collapsing The Peltier element is connected to the supporting frame, via a heat spreader (4), and one or more heat pipes (5) extending through at least one of said insulating walls. Thus, the frame is used emit or collect heat to/from the outside environment of the container. The container, moreover, may comprise photovoltaic means (8) outside the container, on wall panels that are supported by the frame, for converting light into electric energy which can be fed to said Peltier element.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of providing a plastic substrate with a metallic pattern and to a plastic substrate with a metallic pattern obtainable by said method. The method of the invention comprises i) replicating a pattern of recesses and protrusions on a plastic substrate by pressing a stamp having recesses and protrusions against the substrate, thereby providing said plastic substrate with recesses and protrusions; ii) removing said stamp from said substrate; iii)—applying a layer of seed material capable of initiating an electroless or electrochemical metal deposition process onto said plastic substrate in a selective pattern at least in the recesses of said plastic substrate to yield a substrate wherein said seed material remains selectively in the recesses of said substrate; and thereafter iv) using said seed material to initiate a metal deposition process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of transferring user data from a communication module to a data processing centre over a telecommunications network. A signalling message is wirelessly received from the communication module in the telecommunications network. The signalling message contains the user data that is subsequently transferred to the data processing centre. By inserting the user data in the signalling message (s), it is possible to rapidly transmit data to the telecommunications network, while resources can be saved since it not required to establish a complete circuit-switched or packet-switched connection between the communication module and the telecommunications network. The user data may comprise application data of a program run by the communication module, e.g. alarming data, measurement data or derivatives thereof.

Abstract: A device 220 is described for curing patterns of a substance at a surface of a foil 210. The device comprises: a carrier facility 236, 238 for carrying the foil 210 within an object plane O, a photon radiation source 240 arranged at a first side of the object plane for emitting photon radiation in a wavelength range for which the foil is transparent, a first and a second concave reflective surface 252, 254 arranged at mutually opposite sides of the object plane O, for mapping photon radiation emitted by the photon radiation source 240 into the object plane. Therein the photon radiation source 240 is arranged between the first concave reflecting surface and the object-plane. The photon radiation of the photon radiation source is concentrated into the object plane by the first and the second concave reflective surface 52, 54; 152, 154; 252, 254; 352, 354.

Abstract: A pick-and-place machine, comprising: a pick station; a place station; a pick/place head for transporting a die from the pick station along a transport path to the place station; wherein the machine further comprises a die-face processing means, comprising an inspection unit and/or a cleaning unit, operable to process a face of the die on the transport path.

Abstract: Method and means for modifying gases or fumes fed through a filter (1), from its inlet side to its outlet side, submitted to an electric plasma having its maximum plasma density (d) at the filter's inlet side. The gases or fumes may comprise NOx, the filter being constituted by a catalytic material fit for modifying NOx. The filter also may be polluted with e.g. a soot deposit, precipitated on the filter's surface and/or within the filter's interior. The means may comprise a first electrode system (2) at the filter's inlet side and a second electrode system (3) at the filter's outlet side, connected to a high voltage (V1). Preferably the first electrode system comprises two or more groups of interlacing electrodes, each connected to a high voltage source (V1, V2, V3).

Abstract: The invention provides a softscaled frequency compensation function that allows the evaluation of a first quality measure indicating a global impact of all distortions in an audio transmission system, including linear frequency response distortions and second quality measure that only lakes into account the impact of linear frequency response distortions. The softscaled frequency compensation function is derived from a softscaled ratio between a time integrated output and a time integrated input power density functions. The first quality measure is derived from the difference loudness density function as function of time and frequency, using the frequency compensated input loudness density function and the gain compensated output loudness density function both as a function of time and frequency, in the same manner as carried out in ITU standard P.862.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for ejecting droplets of a fluid material, comprising: a reservoir for storing the material, a channel connected with the reservoir, which is provided with at least one outflow opening from which, in use, flows a jet of the material breaking up into droplets, a pump for pressurizing the fluid material in the reservoir, so as to pass the material under pressure through the channel in the direction of the outflow opening, and a movable member provided in the reservoir, the member formed by a plurality of surfaces shaped to induce a pressure variation in the fluid material upstream of the outflow opening, for the purpose of obtaining the jet breaking up into droplets; the movable member mounted to have each opposed surface receiving identical hydrostatic pressure, to generate a net resulting zero force exerted on the movable member by the hydrostatic pressure. Accordingly, a simple mechanism is provided for providing multiple printing nozzles.

Abstract: Biological material is detected in a sample using a MALDI-MS technique (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption and Ionization-Mass Spectroscopy). A liquid comprising the sample and a MALDI matrix material is prepared and used to form a continuous stream of the liquid. The stream is separated into successive parts to form drops, which are launched into flight, or the stream is launched into flight and then separated into drops. Drop forming techniques may be used that are known from ink jet printers. Material from the drops is ionized while in flight. Mass spectra from the ionized material of respective drops are measured. Preferably, before the drops are formed the liquid is diluted to a level where the majority of drops at most one micro-organism is present per drop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a radio frequency tag. The tag comprises a receiver for receiving radio frequency waves having an amplitude spectrum provided with a first frequency component and a second frequency component. The tag also comprises a converter associated with the receiver for generating a signal having a frequency component at the frequency difference between the first frequency and the second frequency. In addition, the tag comprises a signal circuit for processing the generated signal and a coupler for forwarding the generated signal from the receiver towards the signal circuit. The signal circuit comprises a transmitter for transmitting the generated signal as a transmitted radio wave.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for detecting a contamination with a microorganism in a closed container, in which an extracellular enzyme of the microorganism is detected. The method can very suitably be carried out by providing a substrate for this enzyme to the contents of the container and detecting the conversion of this substrate by this enzyme. An embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention is shown in, which shows a container (1) for, for instance, sterile tissue culture of plants (2). The container is provided with a growth medium (3) which comprises a substrate for a microbial extracellular enzyme and with optical sensors (4) which can be read by means of an optical measuring device (5). An alternative embodiment is shown which shows a sterile package for, for instance, medical aids (2). The package forms a closed container (1) whose wall is provided with an indicator (3) which can be visually read.

Abstract: Throughput between personal computers and the Internet is increased by using inverse multiplexing over local loop telephone lines of different users. The different personal computers share the multiple intersubnetwork connections with each other, so that the efficiency of the use of the intersubnetwork connections is increased. Each of the computers is capable of receiving and/or transmitting inverse-multiplexed data signals over the same plurality of intersubnetwork connections. Preferably, at each computer, use is made of a separate connecting device locally coupled to the computer and an intersubnetwork connection and remotely coupled to one or more other such connecting devices. The connecting devices are placed in different housings, each having a regular connection with a local computer and a wireless transmission connection to corresponding connecting devices in neighboring housings.

Abstract: An electronic circuit comprising a power limiter circuit. The power limiter circuit comprises a plurality of cascaded transmission line sections, each transmission line section comprising a series arrangement of at least one diode and a dissipative element for absorbing excess input signal power connected in series. The series arrangement is connected between an output of the section and effective ground, a number of diodes connected in series in the series arrangements of the sections decreases with position of the section from an input of the power limiter to an output of the power limiter by steps of one or more diodes at least at part of the sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for inspection of a three-dimensional environment by a user, comprising a tool (3) arranged to be introduced in a vicinity of the three-dimensional environment (1), said tool comprising one or more cameras (4) arranged at or near a distal end of the tool, said one or more cameras being arranged to generate respective images of the three-dimensional environment; a display unit (8) arranged to receive said respective images; a motion tracking system (11) arranged to determine a position of at least a portion of the user for selecting an image generated by said cameras or for causing the one or more cameras to generate the image on demand and for displaying the image (9) on the display (8). The invention further relates to a method, a tool, a display unit for enabling inspection of an object by a user as well as to use of a tool comprising at least one camera in the system as set forth in the foregoing.

Abstract: An apparatus for extrusion, in particular for extrusion of metal, comprising an extrusion body defining a passage for material to be extruded, including a die having a bearing opening extending between a bearing opening entry surface and a bearing opening exit surface, and wherein cooling means are arranged in the body defining the extrusion passage upstream of the bearing opening exit surface, the cooling means comprising the material of the body being differentiated in thermal conductivity so as to define cooling pathways.

Abstract: A method of modelling a surface of an object by using ultrasonic waves transmitted along the surface comprises the steps of: transmitting the ultrasonic waves along paths along the surface, and determining travel times of the ultrasonic waves along the paths. At least some of the ultrasonic waves exhibit an S0 mode and have a frequency-dependent velocity. This velocity (c) is relatively high for frequencies up to a first bending point (BP1), decreasing relatively rapidly for frequencies between the first bending point (BP1) and a second bending point (BP2), and relatively low for frequencies beyond the second bending point (BP2). The ultrasonic waves have a frequency range which lies at or below the first bending point (BP1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a bendable structure 40 comprising a body 41 conceived to be bent; an actuator 42, 43, 44 for inducing a bending force in the body, wherein the actuator comprises a wire at least partially manufactured from a uni-directional shape memory alloy (SMA) material, said wire being pre-deformed and being arranged in contact with a portion of the body for forming a bridge structure conceived to transfer mechanic energy across the bridge. The bendable structure 40 may relate to a bendable catheter or an endoscope.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of generating a multicomponent particle comprising: and a multicomponent particle generating system comprising a movable support constructed to accelerate particles supplied on the movable support; a particle supply system for supplying the particles to the movable support; at least one nozzle arranged to generate a generally uninterrupted fluid jet along at least part of a circumference of the movable support without breaking up; to have said accelerated particles collide with the fluid jet so as to combine said particles with fluid of the fluid jet, for providing a multicomponent particle; and a collector arranged in the trajectory of said particles, by which said particles can be captured after collision with the fluid jet.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetic body scanning system that comprises a measuring system for measuring data of radio waves scattered by a body in two distinct subbands; and a computer system. The computer system is arranged for constructing a first image of the body using the measured data, generating synthetic scattered data of the body in a frequency range outside the subbands, and constructing a second image of the body using both the measured data and the synthetic data. The step of constructing a first image comprises matching an image to a human model.

Abstract: Method for shared secret verification e.g. to be applied in secure data exchange, in which at least two parties, hereinafter indicated as Alice and Bob, each have a secret while their challenge is to find out whether they share the same secret or not, however, without disclosing the secret itself to each other or to any third party. The method comprises the following steps. In step 1, Alice picks a random number RA, encrypts it using Bob's public key PUB, adds the value of her secret SA, and sends the result K to Bob. In step 2 Bob receives K, subtracts his secret SB, and performs a decryption using his own private key PRB. In step 3 Bob performs the one-way function H on L and sends the result M to Alice. In step 4 Alice receives M, takes her original random number RA, performs the same one-way function H and verifies whether the result equals the received M. In step 5 Alice sends her original random number RA to Bob.