Abstract: In an example embodiment, an apparatus includes a bridge rectifier circuit having branches between the AC and DC nodes formed by a set of transistors. A load current measurement circuit includes a current-controlled current source coupled to the bridge rectifier circuit. The current control current source is configured to generate a mirrored current that is a scaled version of a current through at least one of the set of transistors. A current integration circuit is configured to integrate the mirrored current by charging a capacitor with the scaled current in a first mode and discharging the capacitor in a second mode. A sample and hold circuit is configured to set an output node to a voltage equal to a voltage stored by the capacitor in response to the current integration circuit entering the second mode and prior to the discharge of the capacitor.

Abstract: A method of operating a Post Column Filter (PCF) in a Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscope, and a Post Column Filter configured to operate according to the method. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving, at an entrance plane, an incoming beam of electrons; dispersing, by an energy dispersive element, the incoming beam of electrons into an energy dispersed beam of electrons; disposing a first plurality of quadrupoles between the entrance plane and a slit plane; operating the PCF in an EELS mode; and operating the PCF in an EFTEM mode. Operating the PCF in an EELS mode includes exciting one or more quadrupoles of the first plurality of quadrupoles at a first excitation level, wherein the first excitation level does not enlarge the energy dispersion of the energy dispersed beam of electrons; and forming an image of the energy dispersed beam of electrons on the image plane, the image being an EELS spectrum.

Abstract: A charged particle microscope and a method of operating a charged particle microscope are disclosed. The microscope employs a source for producing charged particles, and a source lens below the source to form a charged particle beam which is directed onto a specimen by a condenser system. A detector collects radiation emanating from the specimen in response to irradiation of the specimen by the beam. The source lens is a compound lens, focusing the beam within a vacuum enclosure using both a magnetic lens having permanent magnets outside the enclosure to produce a magnetic field at the beam, and a variable electrostatic lens within the enclosure.

Abstract: A wind deflector assembly includes a wind deflector member which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The wind deflector member is connected to a first end of at least one pivotable wind deflector arm of which an opposite second end is at least pivotally connected to a stationary part. A biasing device engages the wind deflector arm and urges the wind deflector arm towards the extended position. The biasing device is at least pivotally connected to the stationary part through a pivot.

Abstract: A vibration sensor comprising a pressure detecting arrangement adapted to detect generated pressure variations, and provide an output signal in response to the detected pressure variations, and a pressure generating arrangement adapted to generate pressure variations in response to movements thereof wherein the pressure generating arrangement is secured to an exterior surface portion of the pressure detecting arrangement. In a preferred embodiment the pressure detecting arrangement comprises a stand-alone and self-contained MEMS microphone unit comprising a MEMS microphone cartridge and a signal processing unit.

Abstract: A power converter including a power conditioning circuit to receive input power and set operating voltages of the power converter, a current sensing circuit to determine an input current of the power converter, a voltage regulation circuit to step down a voltage level of the input power, a charge pump circuit to store charge delivered by the voltage regulation circuit and output to a load a current larger than the input current, and a power path controller to control switching and provide feedback within the power converter.

Abstract: A load switch includes a switch element and first and second control circuits. The switch element has an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an output terminal for providing an output voltage, and a control terminal for receiving a switch signal, which turns the switch element on and off. The first control circuit is connected to the control terminal of the switch element and turns off the switch element in response to a first control signal. The second control circuit also is connected to the control terminal of the switch element and keeps the switch element turned off, after the first control circuit has turned off the switch element.

Abstract: A flexible sunscreen is provided intended for use in a sunshade assembly of the type comprising a flexible sunscreen having a central part and two opposed inwardly folded longitudinal edges connected to the central part by means of folding lines, and two opposed longitudinal guides for receiving therein and guiding corresponding ones of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges of the flexible sunscreen, which guides are provided with locking members for engaging an outer end of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges for preventing these edges from moving out of the longitudinal guides. The central part of the flexible sunscreen mainly is manufactured from a first material with a first stiffness wherein of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges and of the parts of the central part adjacent the edges at least part is made of a second material with a second higher stiffness.

Abstract: A method, includes, with an illumination system, directing a first charged particle beam along a particle-optical axis to a specimen position, with an imaging system, receiving a second charged particle beam from the specimen position and directing the second charged particle beam to a detector, recording a first output of the detector, varying an excitation of an optical element of the imaging system with a controller so as to rotate the second charged particle beam at the detector through a yaw angle about the particle-optical axis, and recording a second output of the detector at the yaw angle.

Abstract: A surge protection circuit includes a DC trigger circuit that generates a trigger signal when a surge pulse occurs, and a current conducting unit, coupled to the DC trigger circuit, that generates a first clamp voltage as an output voltage of the surge protection circuit and conducts surge currents to ground in response to the trigger signal. The DC trigger circuit includes a surge detection circuit and a first amplification circuit. The surge detection circuit detects if a surge pulse occurs, and triggers the first amplification circuit to generate the trigger signal when the surge detection circuit detects a surge pulse.

Abstract: A load switch includes a switch element and first and second control circuits. The switch element has an input terminal for receiving an input voltage, an output terminal for providing an output voltage, and a control terminal for receiving a switch signal, which turns the switch element on and off. The first control circuit is connected to the control terminal of the switch element and turns off the switch element in response to a first control signal. The second control circuit also is connected to the control terminal of the switch element and keeps the switch element turned off, after the first control circuit has turned off the switch element.

Abstract: A method of operating a charged particle microscope comprising the following steps: Providing a specimen on a specimen holder; Using a source to produce a beam of charged particles; Passing said beam through an illuminator comprising: A source lens, with an associated particle-optical axis; A condenser aperture, which is disposed between the source lens and specimen and is configured to define a footprint of said beam upon the specimen; Irradiating the specimen with the beam emerging from said illuminator; Using a detector to detect radiation emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation, and producing an associated image, specifically comprising the following steps: Choosing a set of emission angles from said source; For each emission angle in said set, selecting a corresponding sub-beam that emits from the source at that emission angle, and storing a test image formed by that sub-beam, thereby compiling a set of test images corresponding to said set of emission angles; Analyzing said set

Abstract: A power converter including a buck converter to receive input power and set operating voltages of the power converter, a current sensing circuit to determine an input current of the power converter, a charge pump circuit to store charge delivered by the voltage regulation circuit and output to a load and to a battery pack a current larger than the input current, and a battery pack controller to control switching and provide feedback within the power converter.

Abstract: A power converter including a power conditioning circuit to receive input power and set operating voltages of the power converter, a current sensing circuit to determine an input current of the power converter, a voltage regulation circuit to step down a voltage level of the input power, a charge pump circuit to store charge delivered by the voltage regulation circuit and output to a load a current larger than the input current, and a power path controller to control switching and provide feedback within the power converter.

Abstract: A flexible sunscreen is provided intended for use in a sunshade assembly of the type comprising a flexible sunscreen having a central part and two opposed inwardly folded longitudinal edges connected to the central part by means of folding lines, and two opposed longitudinal guides for receiving therein and guiding corresponding ones of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges of the flexible sunscreen, which guides are provided with locking members for engaging an outer end of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges for preventing these edges from moving out of the longitudinal guides. The central part of the flexible sunscreen mainly is manufactured from a first material with a first stiffness wherein of the inwardly folded longitudinal edges and of the parts of the central part adjacent the edges at least part is made of a second material with a second higher stiffness.

Abstract: A charged particle microscope and a method of operating a charged particle microscope are disclosed. The microscope employs a source for producing charged particles, and a source lens below the source to form a charged particle beam which is directed onto a specimen by a condenser system. A detector collects radiation emanating from the specimen in response to irradiation of the specimen by the beam. The source lens is a compound lens, focusing the beam within a vacuum enclosure using both a magnetic lens having permanent magnets outside the enclosure to produce a magnetic field at the beam, and a variable electrostatic lens within the enclosure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for cooling hot torrefied biomass, which process comprises the steps of a) applying water onto the hot torrefied biomass, resulting in steam with entrained dust and organic volatiles, and cooled torrefied biomass comprising water; b) condensing the steam with entrained dust and organic volatiles to form a condensate comprising dust and organic volatiles; and c) recycling the condensate comprising dust and organic volatiles to step a). The invention also relates to a cooling device for cooling hot torrefied biomass enabling the cooling process according to the invention, and a system for producing torrefied biomass comprising such a cooling device.

Abstract: A method of operating a Post Column Filter (PCF) in a Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscope, and a Post Column Filter configured to operate according to the method. In an embodiment, the method includes receiving, at an entrance plane, an incoming beam of electrons; dispersing, by an energy dispersive element, the incoming beam of electrons into an energy dispersed beam of electrons; disposing a first plurality of quadrupoles between the entrance plane and a slit plane; operating the PCF in an EELS mode; and operating the PCF in an EFTEM mode. Operating the PCF in an EELS mode includes exciting one or more quadrupoles of the first plurality of quadrupoles at a first excitation level, wherein the first excitation level does not enlarge the energy dispersion of the energy dispersed beam of electrons; and forming an image of the energy dispersed beam of electrons on the image plane, the image being an EELS spectrum.

Abstract: A method of operating a charged particle microscope comprising the following steps: Providing a specimen on a specimen holder; Using a source to produce a beam of charged particles; Passing said beam through an illuminator comprising: A source lens, with an associated particle-optical axis; A condenser aperture, which is disposed between the source lens and specimen and is configured to define a footprint of said beam upon the specimen; Irradiating the specimen with the beam emerging from said illuminator; Using a detector to detect radiation emanating from the specimen in response to said irradiation, and producing an associated image, specifically comprising the following steps: Choosing a set of emission angles from said source; For each emission angle in said set, selecting a corresponding sub-beam that emits from the source at that emission angle, and storing a test image formed by that sub-beam, thereby compiling a set of test images corresponding to said set of emission angles; Analyzing said set

Abstract: A wireless charging receiver operates on a resonance principle and includes an impedance matching circuit coupled between an antenna and a rectifier circuit. The impedance matching circuit has both series-connected and parallel-connected capacitors. At least one of the capacitors is a tunable variable capacitor. A method is provided for automatically adjusting a capacitance value of the at least one variable capacitor based on an error voltage between a target rectifier voltage and a measured rectifier voltage. Automatically adjusting the antenna impedance of the receiver provides for improved power transfer efficiency for changing operating conditions. In one embodiment, one or more of the parallel-connected capacitors are variable capacitors. In another embodiment, one or more of the series-connected capacitors are variable capacitors.