Abstract: In one aspect, an ultrasound receive beamformer is configured for one-way only beamforming of transmissive ultrasound using one-way delays. The receive beamforming in some embodiments is used to track, in real time, a catheter, needle or other surgical tool within an image of a region of interest. The tool can have embedded at its tip a small ultrasound transmitter or receiver for transmitting or receiving the transmissive ultrasound. Optionally, additional transducers are fixed along the tool to provide the orientation of the tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a circuit comprising on a same board at least one antenna, a processing circuit and a cover covering the processing circuit. Said circuit comprises between the antenna and the cover at least one isolation element realized partly on the board and partly on the cover.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image with an extended focal range by transmitting a plurality of beams spaced along an array for multiline reception. The receive multilines of a plurality of transmit beams are spatially aligned and are combined with phase adjustment between the respective receive multilines to prevent undesired phase cancellation. The combined multilines produce the effect of an extended transmit focus so that an image produced using the combined multilines exhibits an extended focal range. To prevent motion artifacts the multiline order is adjustable as a function of image motion.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting microwave signals is suggested. The apparatus comprises an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic waves a circuit for detecting microwave signals and the signalization stage for generating an indication signal. In addition to that a method for detecting the presence of microwave signals is proposed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microstrip to slotline transition circuit operating on two frequency bands, in which a first filtering circuit is connected between a first portion of microstrip line and a first input/output port, said first circuit and the portion of microstrip line being adapted to accept the frequencies from a first frequency band and reject the frequencies of a second frequency band, a second filtering circuit is connected between a second portion of microstrip line and a second input/output port, said second circuit and the portion of microstrip line being adapted to accept the frequencies from the second frequency band and reject the frequencies from the first frequency band, and the slotline is sized to provide an impedance that is substantially equal to the impedance of an open circuit at the coupling zone between the microstrip line and the slotline.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering circuit comprising at least two slot line resonators arranged side by side and realised on a dielectric substrate having a first face equipped with a conductive layer and a second parallel face, each of said at least two resonators comprising a slot line etched in the conductive layer and folded according to a spiral pattern counting a plurality of turns, with a shape factor such that the slot line has parts noticeably parallel or concentric. According to embodiments of the invention, at least one turn of the spiral pattern of each of the resonators comprises at least one discontinuity, the discontinuities of said at least two slot line resonators being arranged in such a manner as to increase the electromagnetic coupling between said at least two slot line resonators.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of resending at least one digital signal, comprising a step of reception by cable of the signal comprising signaling information, a step of resending of this signal at a resend frequency by an antenna, and also comprising a step of selecting the resend frequency as a function of the signaling information; a step of transposing the signal into the selected frequency of the resend signal and a step of monitoring and adjusting the frequency of the resend signal as a function of the selected frequency of the resend signal.

Abstract: An electrical activity sensor device for monitoring the electrical status of an electrical device, the device comprising: a power cable for supplying power to an electrical device from a power supply network, the power cable being fitted with an in-line switch enabling the electrical device to be switched between electrical power states; wherein: the antenna element is operable to transfer the identification data to the power cable; and the power cable is operable to operate as an antenna when the electrical device is switched on to transmit identification data wirelessly from a sensor device attached to the cable to a reader device.

Abstract: An electrical activity monitoring device based on a sensor device attachable to a power cable of an electrical device for monitoring the electrical status of the electrical device. The device comprises an antenna element which performs the dual functions of magnetically coupling with an electrical pulse generated in the power cable in response to a change of electrical power state of the electrical device and to transmit data to a reader via the power cable. An electrical activity monitoring apparatus is also provided for monitoring the electrical status of at least one electrical device connected to a power supply network by a respective power cable provided with a sensor device. The electrical activity monitoring apparatus comprises a reader and a reader-power line interface device.

Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system produces an image with an extended focal range by transmitting a plurality of beams spaced along an array for multiline reception. The receive multilines of a plurality of transmit beams are spatially aligned and are combined with phase adjustment between the respective receive multilines to prevent undesired phase cancellation. The combined multilines produce the effect of an extended transmit focus so that an image produced using the combined multilines exhibits an extended focal range. To prevent motion artifacts the multiline order is adjustable as a function of image motion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the transmission and/or reception of signals in an MIMO system consisting of: a MIMO module consisting of N inputs/outputs to deliver or receive N signals, where N?2, an antenna system for transmitting or receiving said N signals, said system consisting of at least one antenna with M angular sectors in a horizontal plane, said M angular sectors sensitively not covering each other and together forming a global angular sector of 360°, and switching means, mounted between the MIMO module and the antenna system, to connect P angular sectors of said multi-sector antenna, where 1?P<M, with each of the N inputs/outputs of the MIMO module according to a switching diagram determined using control means in accordance with a criterion representing the quality of the reception of signals by said device or another device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wireless transmission system for signals intended more specifically for a domestic environment. It includes a central terminal comprising at least m transmission channels and n directive transmission antennas intended to transmit first signals at least one client terminal having at least one reception channel connected to a reception antenna in order to receive the first signals said central terminal and said client terminal communicating in a transmission channel having a predetermined frequency band, and an estimation device able to generate an item of information representative of the reception quality of first signals in at least one point of a predetermined geographic zone associated with the client terminal and a return channel in order to transmit said at least one item of information to the control means of the central terminal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for realizing a short-circuited slot-line on a multilayer substrate comprising at least a first conductive layer, a dielectric layer and a second conductive layer, the method comprising the following steps: etching in the first conductive layer a slot-line (2) having an electrical length L, etching in the first conductive layer, around the slot-line, a first portion of a first band having an electrical length L1?L, etching in the first conductive layer, around the slot-line, a second portion of said first band, having an electrical length L2?L, etching in the second conductive layer, a second band in the form of a loop having an electrical length L3, one end of the second band being connected to the first part of the first band and the other end of the second band being connected to the second part of the first band so as to form a conductive loop. The method is used notably to realize isolating slot-lines and slot-antennae.

Abstract: A measuring device for a telescopic handling arm, in which the telescopic handling arm includes at least two elements (1, 2) that are mounted to slide relative to each other, includes measuring elements for measuring the extension of the telescopic arm. The device further includes calculation elements (4) for calculating the extension of the movable portion (2) of the telescopic arm using the hydraulic characteristics of a hydraulic telescoping actuator (3), and the device further includes adjuster elements for adjusting the calculated movements via a signal transmitted by at least one element (5, 6) for contactless identification of the position of the movable portion (2) of the telescopic arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for transmitting and/or receiving radio frequency signals comprising at least one antenna and/or at least one filter realised in printed technology on a dielectric substrate. According to the invention, this device is equipped with means for compensating the permittivity dispersions of the substrate. For this purpose, the device comprises a circuit for measuring the dielectric permittivity of the substrate able to deliver a measured permittivity value and adjustment means able to adjust the impedance of the antenna and/or the frequency response of said filter according to said measured permittivity value.

Abstract: This invention relates to a microstrip to slotline transition circuit operating on two frequency bands, in which a first filtering circuit is connected between a first portion of microstrip line and a first input/output port, said first circuit and the portion of microstrip line being adapted to accept the frequencies from a first frequency band and reject the frequencies of a second frequency band, a second filtering circuit is connected between a second portion of microstrip line and a second input/output port, said second circuit and the portion of microstrip line being adapted to accept the frequencies from the second frequency band and reject the frequencies from the first frequency band, and the slotline is sized to provide an impedance that is substantially equal to the impedance of an open circuit at the coupling zone between the microstrip line and the slotline.

Abstract: Shear wave dispersion ultrasound vibrometry (SDUV) is implemented in some embodiments to form, from a single tracking pulse, in-parallel-directed receive lines (411-426) for making measurements of a monochromatic shear wave. In some embodiments, sampling is performed, over spatial locations by means of passes over the locations, in an interlaced pattern (600) for making measurements of the wave. In some embodiments, measurements are made of the wave and to the measurements are applied a bank of filters (S724) that are tuned to respective candidate wave speeds, all without the need to determine a difference between wave phases at different spatial locations (451-454).

Abstract: Beamforming to image an object (310), such as an interventional tool, is enhanced by initializing the beamformer (308) with the object's location, and optionally its orientation. The initializing uses an estimate of the location/orientation. The estimate is derived from the output of one or more sensors (304, 306). These are disposed external to the imaging array (316) that operates with the beamformer. The estimate is made without the need for a result of any imaging based on data arriving by reflected ultrasound. One or more of the sensors may be attached to the object, which may be elongated, as in the case of a needle or catheter used in medical diagnosis and treatment. In some implementations, one or more of the sensors are attached to the imaging probe (302). The sensors may be, for example, ultrasound, electromagnetic, optical, or shape sensors. Alternatively, ultrasound transmitting transducers may be substituted for the ultrasound sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting microwave signals is suggested. The apparatus comprises an antenna for sending and receiving electromagnetic waves a circuit for detecting microwave signals and the signalization stage for generating an indication signal. In addition to that a method for detecting the presence of microwave signals is proposed. The method comprises the following steps receiving and detecting the microwave signal; correlating the received microwave signal with the previously stored microwave signal; generating an indication signal if the correlation between the received and the stored microwave signals exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: An antenna system for reception of channel signals form the UHF band by a receiver, including an electrically small antenna and, connected between the port connected to the antenna and that of the receiver, an active impedance matching device controlled by command signals depending on the quality of the signal received by the receiver to compensate for the impedance variations due to the environment associated with the antenna and to reject the frequencies of interfering channels adjacent to the reception channel without interfering with the active impedance matching of the antenna.