Abstract: A microwave heating method and unit for heating an aerosol-forming sample due to microwave absorption by a material of the sample and in particular for thereby releasing by or from said sample upon heating said sample at least one aerosol, in particular in a or as a inhalation, vaporizer and/or smoking product or device, in particular for medical and/or pulmonary drug delivery applications. The microwave heating unit includes (i) a sample holding and exposing unit configured to receive and hold a sample in a holding and exposing space and to expose the sample to a microwave radiation field within said holding and exposing space, (ii) a microwave radiation generating and/or releasing unit configured to release the microwave radiation field to said holding and exposing space, and (iii) an impedance matching unit configured to achieve impedance matching between the holding and exposing space and the microwave radiation field.

Abstract: A device for generating a plasma, comprises an alternating voltage source, a travelling wave resonator and coupling means that are designed to couple the alternating voltage generated by the alternating voltage source into the travelling wave resonator in such a manner that travelling electromagnetic waves are produced, wherein the travelling wave resonator is designed to increase the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in such a manner that a plasma is ignited in a gas. The invention further relates to a method for generating a plasma, comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage; generating travelling electromagnetic waves in a travelling wave resonator by coupling said alternating voltage into the travelling wave resonator; and increasing the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in the travelling wave resonator in order to ignite a plasma in a gas.

Abstract: A receiver with a local oscillator, a quadrature modulator, a first mixer and a second mixer, wherein a first input of the quadrature modulator is connected to a second signal input of the receiver circuit and a second input of the quadrature modulator is connected to the local oscillator. Further, a first input of the first mixer is connected to a first signal input of the receiver circuit, a second input of the first mixer is connected to an output of the quadrature modulator, and an output of the first mixer is connected to a first signal output of the receiver circuit. A first input of the second mixer is connected to the second signal input, a second input of the second mixer is connected to the output of the quadrature modulator, and an output of the second mixer is connected to a second signal output of the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A device (200) for generating a plasma that comprises a plasma source (241) designed as a hollow space and a resonator (201) that includes a waveguide (211, 212, 2131) and the plasma source (241), wherein the waveguide (212, 213) is operatively connected with the plasma source (241); the device further comprising a first coupling means (231) for energy introduction (251) and a second coupling means (232) for energy extraction (252), wherein each coupling means (231, 232) is in an energy- and signal-carrying (251, 252) operative connection with the waveguide; the device further comprising an active element (261) for energy supply to the resonator (201), operatively connected with the first (231) and the second (232) coupling means, wherein the plasma source (241) is at least partially integrated into a section of the waveguide (211, 212, 213) that extends between the first coupling means (231) and the second coupling means (232).

Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma source with an oscillator having an active element and a resonator connected to the active element. The resonator has a hollow body, a gas inlet, a gas outlet arranged at a distal end of the hollow body about a longitudinal axis of the hollow body, and a coil arranged along the longitudinal axis of the hollow body, said coil having an effective length of one quarter of a wavelength at a resonant frequency of the resonator. A distal end of the coil is arranged relative to the gas outlet such that a plasma section can form between the distal end of the coil serving as a first plasma electrode and the gas outlet of the hollow body serving as a second plasma electrode. At a proximal end of the hollow body, the coil is lead out of the interior of the hollow body through an electrically contact-free feed-through, and a proximal end of the coil contacts the hollow body at its external side.

Abstract: A receiver with a local oscillator, a quadrature modulator, a first mixer and a second mixer, wherein a first input of the quadrature modulator is connected to a second signal input of the receiver circuit and a second input of the quadrature modulator is connected to the local oscillator. Further, a first input of the first mixer is connected to a first signal input of the receiver circuit, a second input of the first mixer is connected to an output of the quadrature modulator, and an output of the first mixer is connected to a first signal output of the receiver circuit. A first input of the second mixer is connected to the second signal input, a second input of the second mixer is connected to the output of the quadrature modulator, and an output of the second mixer is connected to a second signal output of the receiver circuit.

Abstract: A microwave resonator for inductively generating a plasma (5) is introduced. The microwave resonator comprises a first tube (4) and a conductive, preferably metal, plate (1). The tube (4) is designed for connection to a supply device for a process gas and for conveying the process gas and comprises a dielectric material. The conductive plate (1) has a first, preferably cylindrical, hole (2), which extends from a first opening on a first side of the conductive plate (1) to a second opening on a second side, opposite the first side, of the conductive plate (1). The first tube (4) is arranged in the first hole (2). The conductive plate (1) also has a first slit (3), which is open towards the first and the second side of the conductive plate (1) and towards the first hole (2). The invention also introduces a plasma generator with such a microwave resonator.

Abstract: A device (200) for generating a plasma that comprises a plasma source (241) designed as a hollow space and a resonator (201) that includes a waveguide (211, 212, 2131) and the plasma source (241), wherein the waveguide (212, 213) is operatively connected with the plasma source (241); the device further comprising a first coupling means (231) for energy introduction (251) and a second coupling means (232) for energy extraction (252), wherein each coupling means (231, 232) is in an energy- and signal-carrying (251, 252) operative connection with the waveguide; the device further comprising an active element (261) for energy supply to the resonator (201), operatively connected with the first (231) and the second (232) coupling means, wherein the plasma source (241) is at least partially integrated into a section of the waveguide (211, 212, 213) that extends between the first coupling means (231) and the second coupling means (232).

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of surfaces of a substrate by means of plasma. Said apparatus comprises a plasma source designed to generate plasma and to eject it into a plasma space with a longitudinal plasma extent, said extent extending along a main motion component of the plasma, an at least partially conductive first holding apparatus designed to hold a first workpiece, and a voltage source connected to the first holding apparatus, said voltage source being designed to generate a first acceleration voltage and to apply it to the first holding apparatus. The first holding apparatus is arranged and designed relative to the plasma source in such a manner that it places the first workpiece in such a manner that the plasma reaches the first workpiece when the first acceleration voltage is applied.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for a plasma generator for generating plasmas at atmospheric pressure or near-atmospheric pressures by means of excitation using microwaves. The invention provides an electrode made of a sheet metal strip (1), in the longitudinal direction of which at least one slot (2) is introduced at a length that is one time or multiple times that of a quarter of the wavelength of the open-circuit voltage of the microwave such that at least two partial electrodes (3) are formed, wherein the voltage supply line is provided on the partial electrodes (3) in the region of the closed slot end or ends.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plasma source with an oscillator having an active element and a resonator connected to the active element. The resonator has a hollow body, a gas inlet, a gas outlet arranged at a distal end of the hollow body about a longitudinal axis of the hollow body, and a coil arranged along the longitudinal axis of the hollow body, said coil having an effective length of one quarter of a wavelength at a resonant frequency of the resonator. A distal end of the coil is arranged relative to the gas outlet such that a plasma section can form between the distal end of the coil serving as a first plasma electrode and the gas outlet of the hollow body serving as a second plasma electrode. At a proximal end of the hollow body, the coil is lead out of the interior of the hollow body through an electrically contact-free feed-through, and a proximal end of the coil contacts the hollow body at its external side.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-adjusting gate bias network for field effect transistors in radio frequency applications. A bias network for field effect transistors is provided comprising a field effect transistor having a source electrode connected to ground and a drain electrode connected to a load; a radio frequency network connected to the gate electrode; a gate bias network connected to the gate electrode; wherein a device having a non-linear characteristic is provided in series between the gate electrode and the gate bias network such that a forward bias current at the gate electrode of the field effect transistor is reduced or prevented. The reduction or prevention of a forward bias current leads in overdrive conditions to a self-adjustment of the bias point of the field-effect transistor improving the reduction of distortions of an amplifier or changing the class of oscillators connected to the gate electrode.

Abstract: A device for generating a plasma, comprises an alternating voltage source, a travelling wave resonator and coupling means that are designed to couple the alternating voltage generated by the alternating voltage source into the travelling wave resonator in such a manner that travelling electromagnetic waves are produced, wherein the travelling wave resonator is designed to increase the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in such a manner that a plasma is ignited in a gas. The invention further relates to a method for generating a plasma, comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage; generating travelling electromagnetic waves in a travelling wave resonator by coupling said alternating voltage into the travelling wave resonator; and increasing the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in the travelling wave resonator in order to ignite a plasma in a gas.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a self-adjusting gate bias network for field effect transistors in radio frequency applications. A bias network for field effect transistors is provided comprising a field effect transistor having a source electrode connected to ground and a drain electrode connected to a load; a radio frequency network connected to the gate electrode; a gate bias network connected to the gate electrode; wherein a device having a non-linear characteristic is provided in series between the gate electrode and the gate bias network such that a forward bias current at the gate electrode of the field effect transistor is reduced or prevented. The reduction or prevention of a forward bias current leads in overdrive conditions to a self-adjustment of the bias point of the field-effect transistor improving the reduction of distortions of an amplifier or changing the class of oscillators connected to the gate electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for a plasma generator for generating plasmas at atmospheric pressure or near-atmospheric pressures by means of excitation using microwaves. The invention provides an electrode made of a sheet metal strip (1), in the longitudinal direction of which at least one slot (2) is introduced at a length that is one time or multiple times that of a quarter of the wavelength of the open-circuit voltage of the microwave such that at least two partial electrodes (3) are formed, wherein the voltage supply line is provided on the partial electrodes (3) in the region of the closed slot end or ends.