Abstract: The directions of at least two fibers arranged at a tag are detected to identify the tag and an item intended to be attached thereto. The fibers have an impedance for high frequency electromagnetic waves, which impedance is dependent on a magnetic field at the fiber. Electromagnets generate a modulation magnetic field having an amplitude modulated magnetic component with a first frequency; and a bias magnetic field for counterbalancing any constant magnetic fields parallel to the direction of the fiber. A microwave transmitter directs a frequency modulated microwave signal towards the fiber via a transmitting antenna. The microwave reflected by the microfibers is received by a receiving antenna coaxial with the transmitting antenna and is used to identify tag by determining the orientation of the fibers.

Abstract: A method and a device for differentiation of substances in a body fluid, such as blood, plasma or used peritoneal dialysis fluid, for example for hemodialysis. The device has a compartment having several inlets for entering a body fluid, a transition fluid and a diffusion fluid for flowing parallel with each other in laminar flow layers with substantially equal flow velocities. The transition fluid layer is interposed between the body fluid layer and the diffusion fluid layer. The compartment further has a first outlet for removing the body fluid and the transition fluid and a second outlet for removing the diffusion fluid. Pumps are arranged for controlling the flow velocities so that a marker substance, such as albumin, will not diffuse from the body fluid layer across the transition layer, during the passage of the body fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the compartment.

Abstract: A device for measuring a vibration frequency of a mechanically vibrating string or rod, comprising a microwave transmitter for directing microwaves towards the vibrating string and a microwave receiver for receiving the microwaves amplitude modulated by the frequency of mechanical vibration. A member is arranged close to a vibration maximum of the vibrating string. The member is arranged on one side of the vibrating object and the microwave receiver is arranged on the other side thereof. The device is used for measuring temperature, pressure, torque, force or identity.

Abstract: The directions of at least two fibers arranged at a tag are detected to identify the tag and an item intended to be attached thereto. The fibers have an impedance for high frequency electromagnetic waves, which impedance is dependent on a magnetic field at said fiber. Electromagnets generate a modulation magnetic field having an amplitude modulated magnetic component with a first frequency; and a bias magnetic field for counterbalancing any constant magnetic fields parallel to the direction of the fiber. A microwave transmitter directs a frequency modulated microwave signal towards the fiber via a transmitting antenna. The microwave reflected by the microfibers is received by a receiving antenna coaxial with the transmitting antenna and is used to identify tag by determining the orientation of the fibers.

Abstract: A device for measuring a vibration frequency of a mechanically vibrating string or rod, comprising a microwave transmitter for directing microwaves towards the vibrating string and a microwave receiver for receiving the microwaves amplitude modulated by the frequency of mechanical vibration. A member is arranged close to a vibration maximum of the vibrating string. The member is arranged on one side of the vibrating object and the microwave receiver is arranged on the other side thereof. The device is used for measuring temperature, pressure, torque, force or identity.

Abstract: A method and a device for differentiation of substances in a body fluid, such as blood, plasma or used peritoneal dialysis fluid, for example for hemodialysis. The device has a compartment having several inlets for entering a body fluid, a transition fluid and a diffusion fluid for flowing parallel with each other in laminar flow layers with substantially equal flow velocities. The transition fluid layer is interposed between the body fluid layer and the diffusion fluid layer. The compartment further has a first outlet for removing the body fluid and the transition fluid and a second outlet for removing the diffusion fluid. Pumps are arranged for controlling the flow velocities so that a marker substance, such as albumin, will not diffuse from the body fluid layer across the transition layer, during the passage of the body fluid from the inlet to the outlet of the compartment.

Abstract: A marker for remote detection of articles has an elongated sensor element with magnetic and electric properties. The elongated sensor element provides an electromagnetic reply signal when receiving an electromagnetic input signal. The elongated sensor element modulates the electromagnetic reply signal in response to an external magnetic modulating field. The marker also has means positioned in a vicinity of the elongated sensor element in the marker. The means is adapted to influence either the magnetic or the electric properties of the elongated sensor element in response to incident electromagnetic or magnetic energy, so that either the electromagnetic reply signal itself or the modulation thereof is substantially changed from an active state to a deactivated state.

Abstract: A marker for remote detection of articles has an elongated sensor element with magnetic and electric properties. The elongated sensor element provides an electromagnetic reply signal when receiving an electromagnetic input signal. The elongated sensor element modulates the electromagnetic reply signal in response to an external magnetic modulating field. The marker also has means positioned in a vicinity of the elongated sensor element in the marker. The means is adapted to influence either the magnetic or the electric properties of the elongated sensor element in response to incident electromagnetic or magnetic energy, so that either the electromagnetic reply signal itself or the modulation thereof is substantially changed from an active state to a deactivated state.

Abstract: A method for remote detection of objects, each object is provided with a sensor comprising at least two magnetic elements arranged in a predetermined mutual relationship representing an identity of the sensor. Electromagnetic signals are generated for exciting the sensor elements to produce electromagnetic reply signals. An amplitude of the electromagnetic reply signal from each sensor element is modulated by a first magnetic field having a magnitude-variant and a magnitude-invariant component. A second magnetic field is generated with rotating field vector. A frequency shift is detected in a component of the reply signal, when a magnitude-invariant component of the second magnetic field balances the magnitude-invariant component of the first magnetic field, wherein the respective sensor element is momentarily exposed to a resulting magnetic field with essentially no magnitude-invariant component.

Abstract: An anti-theft device (10) for deterring theft of a protected article has first and second housing elements (12,16) and a locking mechanism (20) for securing a male portion (17) of the second housing element (16) to a female portion of the first housing element (12). The locking mechanism releases the male portion from the female portion, when actuated by an unlocking device operated by an authorized person. A thermally controllable element (36,42) assumes a first position during normal temperatures, wherein the locking mechanism (20) is kept in a locked state, and a second position when heated to temperatures above a predetermined limit, wherein the locking mechanism is caused to release the male portion (17) from the female portion of the first and second housing elements (12,16).

Abstract: A sensor for remote detection of objects (20), preferably for use in an article surveillance system, comprises a wireshaped element (22), which is arranged to be excited and detected electromagnetically. The wireshaped element (22) has a diameter less than 30 &mgr;m. The element is arranged to transmit an electromagnetic reply signal, the amplitude of which is modulated in response to an externally applied and time-varying magnetic field. According to a method of detecting the presence of an object (20) in a surveillance zone (10), the object is provided with at least one wireshaped element (22) of amorphous or nanocrystalline metal alloy with magnetic properties and with a diameter less than 30 &mgr;m. Electromagnetical signals are generated in the surveillance zone for exciting the wireshaped element. Furthermore, a time-varying magnetic modulating field is generated in the surveillance zone.

Abstract: A sensor for remote detection of objects in a surveillance zone (10) is preferably intended to be used in an article surveillance zone, which further has at least one transmitter means (11, 13) and at least one receiver means (12, 15) for transmitting and receiving, respectively, electromagnetic radio-frequency signals in the surveillance zone, and at least one modulating means (16) for generating a modulation field in the surveillance zone. The sensor is arranged to transmit an electromagnetic reply signal at the reception of electromagnetic energy from the transmitter means, said reply signal being dependent on the modulation field and being receivable by the receiver means. A magnetic element (23) is arranged in a sensor body (21; 101, 102), the magnetic properties of the element being controllable by a magnetic field acting as the modulation field, wherein the amplitude of the reply signal from the sensor is controllable through the magnetic modulation field.

Abstract: A label for marking and remote detection of objects has a capsular housing (10, 11) of a material, which in non-magnetic, electrically non-conductive as well as resistant against external influence, the housing consisting of a lower portion (10) and a cover (11), between which a cavity (12) is formed, and at least one elongated sensor element (13) arranged in the cavity (12), the sensor element being made from an amorphous magneto-elastic material with high magneto-mechanical coupling.

Abstract: An article surveillance system for detecting the presence of articles in a detection zone (18) has at least one transmitter means (11, 13) and at least one receiver means (12, 15) for transmitting and receiving, respectively, electromagnetic radio-frequency signals in the detection zone or in proximity thereof. Each article is provided with a sensor or marker (20) operating as a transponder for transmitting an electromagnetic radio-frequency reply signal to the receiver means when receiving a signal from the transmitter means. Furthermore, the system has a coil arrangement (16) with driving means (17) for generating a low-frequent magnetic modulating field in the detection zone (18), and a controller (14) operatively connected to the transmitter means (11, 13), the receiver means (12, 15) and the coil arrangement (16, 17).

Abstract: A method for coding remotely detectable labels (10), whereby at least two elements (18, 19), the characteristics of which being changed by an external magnetic field, are arranged to form a label (10), the label (10) is exposed to a biasing magnetic field covering an interrogation volume (11), that is larger than the label, and the resonance frequency of the elements (18, 19), which is changed by the magnetizing field strength (H) of the magnetic field, is detected. The elements on each label (10) are oriented in predetermined angular relations with respect to each other so as to provide an identity for the label (10) determined by the angular relations, and the elements are exposed to a sequence of different field conditions. All possible combinations of as many magnetic field components as there are elements are compiled, and the magnetic field components are arranged in possible angular relations in the label (10).

Abstract: A label for marking and remote identification of objects, is formed of at least one elongated tape (10) of a magneto-elastical material with a high magneto-mechanical coupling, the tape (10) being movably arranged within a cavity in the label. At least one element (11) is applied on the tape (10) for changing the mass of the tape (10), while preserving the magnetic properties of the tape. The cavity contains a liquid of low viscosity, such as silicon oil, which surrounds the tape.

Abstract: A method of detecting coded labels with at least two amorphous magneto-elastic tapes in a detection zone with a biasing magnetic field is described. The resonance frequencies and the modulation frequencies for each tape are detected at the same time. A tape whose detected resonance frequency is the same as the detected modulation frequency for another tape is registered as belonging to the same label. Further, the amplitude of the detected modulation frequencies of tapes belonging to the same label are detected to compute the angles between the tapes, which are part of the code.

Abstract: A method for excitation and detection of magnetic resonance elements (10) in an interrogation zone (11), whereby a magnetic excitation signal is generated by at least one excitation means (12) and is supplied to the resonance element, so as to force the resonance element (10) into mechanical self-oscillation, and whereby a magnetical signal caused by the self-oscillation is detected. The excitation signal is generated by at least two excitation means (12) being located at a distance from each other, whereby a symmetry plane (14) for the excitation signal is obtained between the excitation means (12). The magnetic signal caused by the self-oscillation is symmetrically recorded at both sides of the symmetry plane (14), and the resonance elements are placed between an excitation means (12) and the symmetry plane (14), the recorded signal thereby containing the magnetic signal caused by the self-oscillation, but lacking the excitation signal.

Abstract: A method is suggested in detecting magnetic elements with a high magneto-mechanical coupling factor by means of magnetic signals. The elements are exposed to magnetic bias fields affecting the elements resonance frequencies, and the element properties affected by the bias fields are detected. The bias field is varied with regard to its magnitude within such intervals, that the presence of elements with known characteristics within the interval is determined, and with regard to its gradient so as to separate existing element positions. The bias field is given a homogenous nature with alternating field propagation directions, whereby elements located in the same plane are separated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for remote sensing of objects, said method including the steps of marking said objects with at least one label (10) comprising at least one electrical resonant circuit (14) having an induction means (11) and a capacitor means (12), exciting said resonant circuit (14) to resonance at a resonant frequency, and detecting said resonant frequency of said resonant circuit (14) by the electromagnetic energy transmitted from said resonant circuit (14). An element (13) of a magnetic material having a varying permeability is coupled inductively to said induction element (11). The resonant frequency of said resonant circuit (14) is affected by the permeability of said element (13) of magnetic material, and said element (13) of magnetic material is exposed to an external and spatially heterogenous magnetic bias field through which the permeability of said element (13) of magnetic material is controlled.