Iurii Motroniuk, Radoslaw Królak, Ralf Stöber, Gerhard Fischerauer
State Observation in Automotive Aftertreatment Systems Based on Wireless Communication Links

We propose a novel approach for a cheap and easy implementable microwave-based system for the state determination of emission control and exhaust gas aftertreatment systems in motor vehicles, trucks, combustion installations, and similar equipment. It is particularly important to monitor the state of diesel particulate filters (DPF), three-way catalytic converters (TWC), and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts. It is proposed to consider the volume inside the housing of the DPF, TWC, or SCR as a communications channel between two terminals of a wireless communications system. From the transmission channel characteristics, the properties of the catalyst, such as the catalyst state, can be estimated. Measurement results for both soot-loaded and empty DPFs are presented. The technique involves a small-size and cost-effective modular architecture and has the potential for serial application.

Ville A. Kaikkonen, Anssi J. Mäkynen
A Hologram Imager Instrument for Ground Plane Measurements of Hydrometeors

This paper presents a holographic hydrometeor imager aimed for in-situ measurement of falling hydrometeors. The hydrometeor imager is based on in-line holographic imaging, which enables larger imaging volumes than can be achieved using traditional imaging techniques. By numerically reconstructing holograms containing the hydrometeors, detailed images of rain drops and snowflakes with resolutions of tens of micrometers are acquired, as well as the local 3D position of individual hydrometeors inside the measurement volume. The reconstructed in-focus images of hydrometeors are analyzed using conventional image analysis techniques to extract the properties of individual hydrometeors. The imaging equipment is described and the results from the first field measurement are presented.

A. Lay-Ekuakille, P. Vergallo, G. Griffo, V. Pelillo
Experimental Measurements for Ozone Output Characterization in Material Treatment

The dry treatment of textile allows to reduce impacts of water treatment, by means of reagents, in the soil and subterranean matrixes. Ozone treatment to remove bacteria and microbes is very useful and it serves as alternative to other systems. There are concerns about residues of ozone in the internal and external atmosphere. In the first case, we deal with workers’ protection and in the latter regards outside air pollution. The paper illustrates an experimental facility built for dry treatment of textiles by means of ozone and experimental measurements performed at the exhaust. An analytical characterization of samples of textiles has been done to obtain a confirmation of bacteria abatement.

Heidi Fleischer, Ellen Vorberg, Kerstin Thurow, Mareike Warkentin, Detlef Behrend
Determination of Calcium and Phosphor in Bones Using Microwave Digestion and ICP-MS Comparison of Manual and Automated Methods using ICP-MS

The determination of the elemental composition of environmental samples provides information for biological monitoring in environmental and occupational health. Concentrations of selected elements contained in human bones may show the current state of health, diseases, intoxications or food pattern. Various studies show age independent concentrations of Calcium (Ca) and Phosphor (P) in human bones, but a correlation between osteoporosis and a decreased Ca concentration is reported. The combination of inductively coupled plasma and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) enables fast multi-elemental measurements with high accuracy and relative low material consumption. In this study, three methods for the determination of P and Ca in bone materials using ICP-MS are presented and compared. This includes two manual methods and one method for automated sample preparation and subsequent analysis in an automated system, which enables an accurate and fast determination of P and Ca in bone materials. All methods were validated and tested using commercially available animal bones. For the methods presented, the repeat accuracy was determined with 39-46 pig bone samples. A concentration range of P with 93.5-100.5 g/kg and of Ca 191.2-203.2 g/kg with was determined with coefficients of variation (CV) in the range of 1.56-3.17 %. The measurement precision showed CV values of 1.07-2.08 %. A fully automated system for sample preparation, sample transportation, measurements using ICP-MS and subsequent data processing was realized and validated.

Maria J. Almeida, Olaf Ueberschär, Ramona Ecke, Stefan E. Schulz, Patrick Matthes, Mathias Müller, Horst Exner
Monolithic microelectronic spin valve compass for autonomous MEMS navigation in geomagnetic field

The natural geomagnetic field has been used for millions of years by various organisms for navigation. The determination of the local field direction (in terms of magnetic north and inclination) enables, for instance, migratory birds to find their annual routes from one continent to another and back home, or magnetotactic bacteria to move towards soil areas rich in nutrients. In analogy, for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), the capability of detecting the local direction of the geomagnetic field as a 2D or 3D vector enables a reliable autonomous navigation through environments with a complex or unknown topology while being independent of GPS or any other radio-based navigation system (and thus being operable also in obstructed or shielded environments). Such mobile MEMS applications demand, however, a very low power consumption and a high miniaturizability of the sensor, as well as a very fast sensor response time. In the following, we present an innovative 2D GMR spin valve sensor on the basis of exchange-biased NiFe-CoFe / Cu / CoFe / IrMn nanolayers in monolithic integration that fulfils all these requirements. For a maximum signal-to-noise ratio, we have realized a focused double full-bridge layout with an antiparallel alignment of the pinned layers of neighbouring meanders by means of microscopic laser heating and subsequent in-field cooling. A systematic optimization of geometry and magnetic structure further contributed to a maximum signal level and a minimum sensor hysteresis. On the basis of fabricated prototypes with a size of 1.5 mm times we demonstrate that these sensors are readily employed to detect the geomagnetic field as a 2D vector with temporal (1 ms) resolution.