Abstract: A thermally emissive apparatus (2) having an electro-thermal heating element (6) comprising a layer (8) of a first material having a first resistivity and a plurality of discrete regions (10) of a second material having a second resistivity substantially lower than that of the first material in electrical contact with the first material. The plurality of regions (10) of second material are arranged spatially so as to impart a predetermined effective sheet resistivity to the first layer (8). A plurality of heating elements may be used having a common first layer (30) of first material, wherein the spatial arrangement of the regions (10) of second material within a first heating element are optionally different to that within a second heating element. In this configuration the first and second heating elements may emit infrared radiation (14) having different intensities. The apparatus (2) finds applications as a thermal target and as an electro-thermal ice protection device.

Abstract: Apparatus for interrogating a defined read space, including RFID reader antenna (408, 410) and at least one absorber panel (402, 404) arranged about said read space, and including an array of circuit analogue (CA) elements. Such apparatus is particularly useful in situations in which multiple readers are arranged in proximity, sometimes referred to as dense reader mode (DRM). The absorber can be tuned to a particular desired frequency, and can be less than a quarter of a wavelength of that desired frequency in thickness.

Abstract: A device for attenuating electromagnetic radiation in a desired transmission frequency band. The device includes a generally planar substrate, and a resistive pattern arranged on the substrate adapted to reflect a proportion of incident radiation in the transmission band. The resistive pattern may be screen printed using carbon based ink. This provides a simple, cheap and easy to fabricate device which can quickly and easily be affixed to the exterior of an antenna or antenna housing to attenuate the power of radiation in the transmission band, resulting in reduced range or sensitivity.

Abstract: A method of preparing a substrate material such that it is capable of sponsoring a catalytic reaction over a pre-determined area of its surface comprising coating some or all of the substrate material with a catalytic material which is capable, once the coated substrate is introduced into a suitable catalytic reaction environment, of sponsoring a catalytic reaction over the coated areas of the substrate wherein the catalytic material is printed onto the substrate by a pattern transfer mechanism.