Abstract: A method is disclosed comprising providing a biological sample on a swab, directing a spray of charged droplets onto a surface of the swab in order to generate a plurality of analyte ions, and analysing the analyte ions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system (100) for detection and identification of at least one species in a sample in an ionic exchange membrane (110), comprising an ion exchange membrane (110), an impedance analyser (120), source (141) and target electrodes (142), a voltage and/or current source (140) arranged to provide an electric potential difference, a computer (170), and at least two impedance electrodes (121, 122) arranged at the ion exchange membrane (110) and connected to the impedance analyser (120). The source (141) and target electrodes (142) are connected to said source (140), and are arranged to upon addition of source (151) and target electrolyte (152) be in ionic contact with a first (111) and second region (112) of the ion exchange membrane (110) respectively.

Abstract: Method and system for emergency operation for a modular multilevel converter including a central controller and a plurality of battery modules. The respective battery module is given a respective switching state by the central controller at each switching stroke, through which a respective energy accumulator is connected to a respective energy accumulator of a respectively adjacent battery module. Through a module monitoring, a respectively faulty energy accumulator is reported to the central controller. For the respective battery module with a faulty energy accumulator, a bypass switching state is determined at each further switching stroke. If a threshold value defined by a specified number of faulty energy accumulators tolerable for an operation of the modular multilevel converter is exceeded, an emergency operation is caused, which includes an operating state change from “operation mode” to a “repair mode”; display of the same; and restriction of a further operating time until repair.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass and/or ion mobility spectrometry or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed comprising: using a first device to generate aerosol, smoke or vapour from one or more regions of a first target of biological material; and mass and/or ion mobility analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said aerosol, smoke, or vapour, or ions derived therefrom so as to obtain first spectrometric data. The method may use an ambient ionisation method.

Abstract: A method for requesting authorization of a payment instrument is provided. The method can include receiving a request for authorization of the payment instrument. The request can include a first identifier identifying the payment instrument. The method can also include obtaining a second identifier identifying a user of the payment instrument and/or a third identifier identifying a physical asset. The method can further include determining an association between at least two of the first identifier, the second identifier, or the third identifier. The method can also include determining, based on a rule and the association, to approve the request for authorization and transmitting data to approve the request for authorization. Related systems, computer-readable mediums, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a filter in a filter device having a filter housing and the filter located therein, the filter device including a filtered material collecting chamber to receive filtered material which accumulates during the cleaning of the filter. The filtered material collecting chamber is filled with a fire prevention agent before it first receives filtered material. The filtered material collecting chamber is filled with a solid material over part of the volume of the filtered material collecting chamber. In the course of a removal of the filtered material collecting chamber from the filter device, a targeted exchange of a chamber atmosphere for the surrounding atmosphere is carried out, and in connection with an inflow of atmospheric air, a mixing movement of the filtered material collecting chamber for mixing the filtered material with the solid material is carried out.

Abstract: An antenna array that utilizes ground guard rings and metamaterial structures is disclosed. In certain embodiments, the antenna array is constructed from a plurality of antenna unit cells, wherein each antenna unit cell is identical. The antenna unit cell comprises a top surface, that contains a patch antenna and a ground guard ring. A reactive impedance surface (RIS) layer is disposed beneath the top surface and contains the metamaterial structures. The metamaterial structures are configured to present an inductance to the patch antennas, thereby allowing the patch antennas to be smaller than would otherwise be possible. In some embodiments, the metamaterial structures comprise hollow square frames. An antenna array constructed using this antenna unit cell has less coupling than conventional antenna arrays, which results in better performance. A ground skirt surrounds the perimeter of the antenna array to improve radiation phase pattern balance within the array.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system (100) for detection and identification of at least one species in a sample in an ionic exchange membrane (110), comprising an ion exchange membrane (110), an impedance analyser (120), source (141) and target electrodes (142), a voltage and/or current source (140) arranged to provide an electric potential difference, a computer (170), and at least two impedance electrodes (121, 122) arranged at the ion exchange membrane (110) and connected to the impedance analyser (120). The source (141) and target electrodes (142) are connected to said source (140), and are arranged to upon addition of source (151) and target electrolyte (152) be in ionic contact with a first (111) and second region (112) of the ion exchange membrane (110) respectively.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a battery unit of a motor vehicle. The battery unit is configured to provide electrical energy to an electric drivetrain (M) of the motor vehicle, and the electric drivetrain (M) is configured to drive the motor vehicle. The battery unit has a plurality of battery modules (U1, U2, UN, V1, V2, VN, W1, W2; WN). The method comprises: monitoring whether the battery unit is in a powered-off state; measuring a period of time during which the battery unit is in the powered-off state; and transitioning the battery unit from the powered-off state into a powered-on state when the period of time exceeds a time threshold. The battery modules (U1, U2, UN, V1, V2, VN, W1, W2; WN) are connected electrically in parallel to one another in the powered-on state.

Abstract: Method and system for emergency operation for a modular multilevel converter including a central controller and a plurality of battery modules. The respective battery module is given a respective switching state by the central controller at each switching stroke, through which a respective energy accumulator is connected to a respective energy accumulator of a respectively adjacent battery module. Through a module monitoring, a respectively faulty energy accumulator is reported to the central controller. For the respective battery module with a faulty energy accumulator, a bypass switching state is determined at each further switching stroke. If a threshold value defined by a specified number of faulty energy accumulators tolerable for an operation of the modular multilevel converter is exceeded, an emergency operation is caused, which includes an operating state change from “operation mode” to a “repair mode”; display of the same; and restriction of a further operating time until repair.

Abstract: A method for a safety concept for an AC battery, in which the AC battery includes a central controller, a plurality of battery modules which respectively have a power board with a plurality of switching states, a plurality of contactors, a plurality of current sensors, a fault loop and a high-speed bus and is connected to a traction machine. The central controller has a hardware-programmable processor unit with at least one microprocessor core on which a control program is configured to control the battery modules, the plurality of contactors and the fault loop. A state machine is implemented by the control program. The battery modules are connected, starting from the central controller, via the high-speed bus and the fault loop. If an abort fault occurs, the AC battery is changed to a safe operating state. The safe state is achieved at least by emergency disconnection of the central controller.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

Abstract: A method for state-of-charge monitoring of an AC battery, in which the battery includes a central controller having a scheduler, measuring sensors and at least two battery modules. The at least two battery modules each have at least one energy storage element and at least two power semiconductor switches, which connect the respective battery module in series or in parallel or in bypass with another battery module. The battery is controlled by the central controller, and a respective switching state of the at least two battery modules is preset by the scheduler. The state-of-charge monitoring is implemented by a control program within the scheduler. During operation of the battery, a state of each individual energy storage element is monitored by virtue of a respective current flow at a respective energy storage element being determined using continued evaluation of measured values of preset battery parameters which are detected by measuring sensors.

Abstract: A measurement apparatus has a current sensor and at least one A/D converter, which current sensor has at least two channels (CH1, CH2), via which channels (CH1, CH2) the current sensor (30) respectively provides a measurement signal (CH1_SIG, CH2_SIG) characterizing the current. The at least two channels (CH1, CH2) include a first channel (CH1) and a second channel (CH2), which second channel (CH2) is designed to measure a greater maximum current than the first channel (CH1). Also described is a method for measuring a current flowing through a conductor by way of the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A method for actuating contactors in a traction system. The traction system includes an AC battery, an electric motor, at least one peripheral unit, a plurality of voltage and current sensors, a plurality of contactors, which are arranged in electrical connections to the AC battery and to the electric motor and to the at least one peripheral unit, and a controller having a hardware-programmable processor unit on which a control program for actuating the contactors is configured at the start of operation. After the configuration, a fixed semiconductor circuit structure relating to the actuation of the contactors is available to the processor unit. The traction system has multiple modes of operation. A respective mode of operation is predefined by a general vehicle controller. A respective mode of operation has a plurality of states formed by at least one respective target state and at least one intermediate state.

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.

Abstract: A method for switching control of a multi-level converter. The multi-level converter has a plurality of modules. A total switching state is formed from respective module switching states of the plurality of modules by the switching control. A current state of charge of all energy stores of the multi-level converter is provided continuously to the switching control. The switching control is divided into an offline part and an online part, wherein, in the offline part, a plurality of offline switching tables is calculated by way of optimizers in a continuous sequence and, for calculation of a respective offline switching table of the plurality of offline switching tables, a respective cost function is minimized according to at least one predefined offline optimization criterion for evaluating the total switching state. In the online part, an online switching table is selected from the plurality of offline switching tables in a continuous sequence.

Abstract: A method controls switching states of a multi-level converter with multiple modules. Each module has: terminals on a first and second side; controllable switches; and an energy store in series with a first switch in a first connection between the terminals. A second switch is arranged in a connection between the terminals. The control of the switching states is divided into a real-time and offline part. In the real-time part, for each time step: a voltage level is allocated to a voltage requirement; a total switching state is determined in a first switching table for the voltage level; and the total switching state is passed on as a control signal to the switches. In the offline part: a second switching table is calculated, resulting in accordance with a minimization of a cost function.

Abstract: System (100) comprising a device (101) comprising a body (102), an ion conductive member (120), a first electrode (131), and a second electrode (132). The system (100) further comprises a source solution (141), a target solution (142), a first species (151), and a second species (152). A first end (121) of the ion conductive member (120) is arranged in contact with 5 the source solution (141). A second end (122) of the ion conductive member (120) is arranged in contact with the target solution (142). The first electrode (131) is arranged in contact with the source solution (141), the second electrode (132) is arranged in contact with the target solution (142), the first species (151) is in the source solution (141), and the second species (152) is in the target solution (142).

Abstract: A method of analysis using mass spectrometry and/or ion mobility spectrometry is disclosed. The method comprises: using a first device to generate smoke, aerosol or vapour from a target comprising or consisting of a microbial population; mass analysing and/or ion mobility analysing said smoke, aerosol or vapour, or ions derived therefrom, in order to obtain spectrometric data; and analysing said spectrometric data in order to analyse said microbial population.