Abstract: A spectrometer device includes an optical interference filter which is designed to filter specific wavelength ranges of an incident light beam on passage through the optical interference filter. The spectrometer device also includes a detector device which is designed to detect the filtered light beam. Further, the spectrometer device includes a focusing device with a reflective surface. The focusing device is designed to focus the filtered light beam onto the detector device by reflection on the surface.

Abstract: A spectrometer apparatus is disclosed that includes at least one light source for irradiating a sample with light, an optical detection device for detecting light scattered by the sample, at least one optical filter device, which is arranged in front of and/or behind the sample, a contact sensor device for determining a contact between the sample and the spectrometer apparatus and for outputting a corresponding output signal, a control device for controlling the light source and the detection device in response to the output signal. The control device is designed such that the control device modifies at least one operating parameter of the light source and the detection device, when the output signal indicates the contact between the sample and the spectrometer apparatus. A method for operating a spectrometer apparatus is disclosed as well.

Abstract: A system receives information for a plurality of invoices having invoice amounts owed by a debtor-buyer to a plurality of creditor-suppliers, a cash pool amount for a cash pool available by the debtor-buyer for early payment of at least some of the invoice amounts, and a desired return rate, receives a plurality of offers, each offer from a corresponding creditor-supplier and comprising an offer return rate, determines whether each of the plurality of offers is eligible for acceptance based on each offer return rate from each offer and the desired return rate for the buyer and selects one or more invoices each having an invoice amount, and transmits award information to the debtor-buyer.

Abstract: A system for airborne storage, assembly and launch of aircraft and spacecraft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induction coil arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The induction coil arrangement includes a plate having opposite first and second sides, a first flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the first side of the plate, and a second flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the second side of the plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for use with an RLC resonance circuit for inductive heating of a susceptor of an aerosol generating device. The apparatus is arranged to determine a resonant frequency of the RLC resonance circuit; and determine, based on the determined resonant frequency, a first frequency for the RLC resonance circuit for causing the susceptor to be inductively heated, the first frequency being above or below the determined resonant frequency. The apparatus may be arranged to control a drive frequency of the RLC resonance circuit to be at the determined first frequency in order to heat the susceptor. Also disclosed is an aerosol generating device including the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induction coil arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The induction coil arrangement includes a plate having opposite first and second sides, a first flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the first side of the plate, and a second flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the second side of the plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. The tubular heating element further includes a heating material layer that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field on a tubular support. The tubular heating element has a wall thickness of no more than one millimeter. Further, the tubular heating element can include a protective layer. The heating layer includes a ferromagnetic material based on cobalt or nickel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for use with an RLC resonance circuit for inductive heating of a susceptor of an aerosol generating device. The apparatus is arranged to determine a resonant frequency of the RLC resonance circuit; and determine, based on the determined resonant frequency, a first frequency for the RLC resonance circuit for causing the susceptor to be inductively heated, the first frequency being above or below the determined resonant frequency. The apparatus may be arranged to control a drive frequency of the RLC resonance circuit to be at the determined first frequency in order to heat the susceptor. Also disclosed is an aerosol generating device including the apparatus.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tubular heating element for use in an apparatus for heating aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable material. The tubular heating element further includes heating material layer that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field on a tubular support. The tubular heating element has a wall thickness of no more than one millimeter. Further, the tubular heating element can include a protective layer. The heating layer includes a ferromagnetic material based on cobalt or nickel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a carrier having plural thermally-conductive portions, on which are locatable respective discrete quantities of smokable material. Between the portions of the carrier, the carrier is shaped to form a thermal barrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one or more of the portions of the carrier towards another of the portions of the carrier in use.

Abstract: Disclosed is an article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a carrier having plural thermally-conductive portions, on which are locatable respective discrete quantities of smokable material. Between the portions of the carrier, the carrier is shaped to form a thermal barrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one or more of the portions of the carrier towards another of the portions of the carrier in use.

Abstract: An inductor for use in an aerosol provision device. The inductor includes an electrically-conductive element. The element includes an electrically-conductive non-spiral first portion coincident with a first plane, an electrically-conductive non-spiral second portion coincident with a second plane that is spaced from the first plane, and an electrically-conductive connector that electrically connects the first portion to the second portion.

Abstract: An aerosol provision device having a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article including aerosolizable material, an outlet through which aerosol is deliverable from the heating zone to a user in use, and heating apparatus for causing heating of the article when the article is at least partially located within the heating zone to thereby generate the aerosol. The heating apparatus is configured to, during a heating session, cause heating of a first portion of the aerosolizable material to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize a component of the first portion of the aerosolizable material, and heating of a second portion of the aerosolizable material to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize a component of the second portion of the aerosolizable material. The heating apparatus is configured to cause the heating of the first portion before or more quickly than the heating of the second portion.

Abstract: A portable neck strength testing device includes a support member securable to the body of a subject, a measurement unit coupled to the support member and a head mount adjustably connected to the measurement unit. The head mount includes a first portion configured to engage the head of the subject and the head mount is displaceable in response to motion of the first portion. The measurement unit is configured to detect displacement of the head mount and measure therefrom at least a force or a torque exerted on the head mount.

Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus has a composite susceptor for heating an aerosol generating material in use thereby to generate an aerosol. The composite susceptor comprises a support portion and a susceptor portion supported by the support portion. The apparatus comprises an induction element arranged for inductive energy transfer to the susceptor portion in use; and a driving arrangement arranged to drive the induction element with an alternating current in use thereby to cause the inductive energy transfer to the susceptor portion, thereby to cause the heating of the aerosol generating material by the composite susceptor, thereby to generate the aerosol. The alternating current has a waveform comprising a fundamental frequency component having a first frequency and one or more further frequency components each having a frequency higher than the first frequency. A method of operating the aerosol generating apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of making an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate comprises an aerosol-forming material which comprises nicotine and/or a tobacco material. The method comprises electrospraying the aerosol-forming material or component or precursor thereof.

Abstract: Web-based opinion survey method, apparatus, and computer-readable media operable to cause propositional function responses to be provided to a survey server from a client device. The propositional functions are P(x), where P and x are the predicate and subject. Each P(x) is evaluated in the client device for subjects, each with a different x. Preferably, the client device displays the subjects within a Web Single Page Application (SPA) running on the client device. Preferably, the SPA displays a nonnumerical scale, the granularity of which is directly proportional to the number of pixels spanned by the scale. For each P(x), the client device displays labeled markers along the scale, to provide an indication of a level of agreement with the expressed P(x). For each P(x) subject, the client expresses an opinion on a position on the scale, whereby a pixel position corresponds to a rating for the selected subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is an induction coil arrangement for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The induction coil arrangement includes a plate having opposite first and second sides, a first flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the first side of the plate, and a second flat spiral coil of electrically-conductive material mounted on the second side of the plate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a heating element for use in heating aerosolizable material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolisable material. The heating element includes a heat resistant support and a coating on the support. The coating includes cobalt.