Abstract: A proton conducting membrane for a fuel cell or a reactor based on fuel cell technology, consisting of a thin glass plate that allows for migration of protons from one side of the membrane to the other. Such a membrane is not affected by reactants that are common in DMFC cells, and is not permeable to ions other than protons/hydroxonium ions, and it does not conduct electrons. The glass may be ordinary soda lime glass and may be doped with silver chloride. Furthermore, a catalyst that is essential for conducting one of an anodic reaction and a cathodic reaction in the fuel cell or the reactor can be fused in the glass surface on one side of the membrane, and the catalyst that is essential for conducting the other reaction can be fused in the glass surface on the other side of the membrane.

Abstract: Methanol is produced from carbon dioxide and water in a reactor comprising a cathode side with a cathode and catalyst for the cathode reaction, an anode side with an anode and catalyst for the anode reaction, and an intermediate membrane separating the cathode side from the anode side. The reactor is divided into a plurality of cells that are flow connected in series for carrying out a multi-step cathode reaction. A voltage is connected between the cathode and the anode where the carbon dioxide is exposed to a cathode reaction, and is reduced to formic acid, in a second step the formic acid is reduced to formaldehyde and water, and in a third step the formaldehyde is reduced to methanol. Reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide to be deposited may be achieved. Water is oxidized to hydrogen peroxide, which may be used as oxidant in DMFC fuel cells.

Abstract: A DMFC fuel cell, in which liquid methanol is oxidised to carbon dioxide and water, the methanol is exposed to an anodic reaction using a catalyst, the reaction products are led to a second step, where an anodic reaction is performed using a catalyst, and the reaction products from the second step are led to a third step, where an anodic reaction is performed using an optimal catalyst. The three reaction steps are connected flow-wise in series in a fuel cell unit, and the supply of oxidant is controlled such that the reactions on the anodic and the cathodic sides are in stoichiometric balance with each other in every step. Hydrogen peroxide is preferably used as an oxidant. Liquid ethanol can be used as fuel. The ethanol is oxidised to carbon dioxide, and methanol and in the second unit the methanol is oxidised to carbon dioxide and water.

Abstract: An exemplary skew-tolerant true-single-phase-clocking (TSPC) flip-flop is disclosed that reduces current spikes by allowing willful introduction of skew in the clock tree of a single-phase circuit design. More precisely, a split-clock TSPC flip-flop, which allows the flip-flop hold times to be met in the face of skewed clocks, which, in turn, reduces the maximum value of current spikes, can be substituted for a traditional TSPC flip-flop in a sequential logic circuit. The input of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is latched according to a first clock signal, which was used in a preceding stage, while the output of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is driven according to a second clock signal. The first and second clock signals can be skewed in time, but have the same frequency and substantially the same phase. Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) device can also be included within the split-clock TSPC flip-flop to reduce power dissipation in cases of large clock skew.

Abstract: A method for verifying a person's identity using biometric data, comprises recording current biometric data that is input into a sensor by the person, and comparing previously recorded biometric reference data with the current biometric data in order to check whether an alignment condition has been fulfilled. If such is not the case, an indication is produced, on the basis of a result of the comparison, that the person is to change the input to the sensor in order to improve the alignment between the current biometric data and the biometric reference data. It is preferably also calculated and indicated how the user is to change the input. A computer program product and a device are also described.

Abstract: An exemplary skew-tolerant true-single-phase-clocking (TSPC) flip-flop is disclosed that reduces current spikes by allowing willful introduction of skew in the clock tree of a single-phase circuit design. More precisely, a split-clock TSPC flip-flop, which allows the flip-flop hold times to be met in the face of skewed clocks, which, in turn, reduces the maximum value of current spikes, can be substituted for a traditional TSPC flip-flop in a sequential logic circuit. The input of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is latched according to a first clock signal, which was used in a preceding stage, while the output of the split-clock TSPC flip-flop is driven according to a second clock signal. The first and second clock signals can be skewed in time, but have the same frequency and substantially the same phase. Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) device can also be included within the split-clock TSPC flip-flop to reduce power dissipation in cases of large clock skew.

Abstract: A damaged area of a metal sheet, such a conveyor belt, is repaired by affixing frames to upper and lower sides of the sheet, and rotating a center element that is rotatably mounted in one of the frames, whereby a chip-removing cutting blade disposed on the center element cuts a piece out of the metal sheet following a number of rotations of the center element. The same mechanism is used to cut a correspondingly shaped replacement piece from a metal replacement sheet. The replacement piece is then positioned in the hole cut in the sheet to be repaired, and the center element carrying the cutting blade is replaced by a center element carrying a welding device. The welding device welds a joint between the replacement piece and the sheet as the center element is rotated. Inert shielding gas is supplied above and below the weld joint during the welding operation, and support rollers keep the sheet and the replacement piece flush with each other during the welding operation.