Abstract: A method for enabling an oscillating crystal available in a system to be used to generate a software-realized time function, and an apparatus for implementing the method, without requiring additional hardware components, wherein a periodic interrupt signal is generated by the system-internal real-time clock, a table entry with a reference to a routine in an intra-system table is accessed upon receipt of the periodic interrupt signal and a counter is formed by the routine.

Abstract: An apparatus for upgrading a standard PC system to a fail-safe computation system, comprising a plug device for plugging into the computation system, a memory module, a microcontroller, and a first device for generating a first time signal, wherein the microcontroller and the first device interact such that the computation system is provided with the first time signal through the plug device device.

Abstract: A method and a programmable logic controller (SPS) for verifying an application program in a failsafe programmable logic controller, wherein a signature (desired value) is generated using program modules or a complete application program when creating a program, and a copy of the signature is stored in the programmable logic controller and in an external component, respectively. Before the safety-oriented application program is started, the copy of the signature stored by the programmable logic controller is transmitted to the external component and is compared with the copy in the external component. In a further comparison, a signature (actual value) is generated using the content of the main memory of the programmable logic controller and using the actually loaded application program and is then compared with the local copy of the desired value of the signature. Starting of the actual application program is enabled only when both comparisons are positive.

Abstract: A method that tests the real-time behavior of an operating system having a first time system (e.g., a SMI tracer real-time extension) responsible for the real-time behavior of the operating system, wherein a test routine is periodically called for execution and the actual point in time of execution of the test routine is compared with an expected periodic point in time of execution of the test routine.

Abstract: A method for enabling an oscillating crystal available in a system to be used to generate a software-realized time function, and an apparatus for implementing the method, without requiring additional hardware components, wherein a periodic interrupt signal is generated by the system-internal real-time clock, a table entry with a reference to a routine in an intra-system table is accessed upon receipt of the periodic interrupt signal and a counter is formed by the routine.

Abstract: A steering wheel has at least one shift paddle which is coupled to the steering wheel in such a manner that the shift paddle is movable relative to the steering wheel in order in a contactless manner to trigger a shifting operation. In order to improve the ease of operation when actuating the shift paddle on the steering wheel, the steering wheel is distinguished by a slotted guide mechanism by which a shifting sensation is generated during movement of the shift paddle.

Abstract: In a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell connected to electrical connection lines, the fuel cell can be short-circuited in the event of an emergency cut-out being required.

Abstract: An apparatus for upgrading a standard PC system to a fail-safe computation system, comprising a plug device for plugging into the computation system, a memory module, a microcontroller, and a first device for generating a first time signal, wherein the microcontroller and the first device interact such that the computation system is provided with the first time signal through the plug device device.

Abstract: A method for checking a data processing device to determine its suitability for performing failsafe automation processes, wherein the data processing device includes a first and a second time base. The method comprises determining a first time value of the first time base after expiration of a time period of length T, determining a second time value of the second time base after the expiration of the time period of length T, determining a deviation between the first and the second time value, and initiating a troubleshooting measure if the deviation undershoots, i.e., undershoots or reaches, a predefined or pre-definable limit value.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and at least one electrical energy storage device that can be electrically connected to and/or disconnected from the fuel cell stack by at least one electronic switching element which is based, for example, on a MOSFET. The fuel cell stack itself is cooled. The at least one switching element is in thermally conductive contact with a cooling circuit for cooling the fuel cell stack, for example, by mounting the switching element on the end plates of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the reflow soldering of printed circuit board assemblies provided with solder paste in a sealed chamber with heating in the chamber. In a first process step, the pressure in the chamber is amplified in comparison with the atmospheric pressure and the temperature in the chamber is increased by convection heating to melt the solder paste and, in a second process step, the pressure is again lowered to atmospheric pressure in controlled manner while maintaining the temperature.

Abstract: Data processing and transmission is monitored in a data processing unit. The data processing unit has a plurality of software modules, between which data is exchanged, a check sum is allocated to the data of a data transmission, which, in selected software modules is advanced by a plurality of places through one of the software modules.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel cell system comprising at least one fuel cell (4), an electric intermediate accumulator (7), which is connected to common supply terminals (8) for an electric consumer (9), at least one sensor (10) for detecting an operating parameter of the fuel cell(s), a switch (6) for electrically connecting and/or disconnecting the fuel cell (4) to and from the intermediate accumulator (7) and the supply terminals (8), in addition to a control circuit (11) for opening and closing the switch (6) in accordance with the detected operating parameter.

Abstract: A fuel-cell system, in particular for a vehicle, has a device for supplying the operating agents for a fuel cell and an electrical energy accumulator. The energy accumulator is composed of a battery and of an intermediate charge store which has a lower internal resistance than the battery. A switch is provided in the electrical connection between the energy accumulator and the fuel cell.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack and at least one electrical energy storage device that can be electrically connected to and/or disconnected from the fuel cell stack by at least one electronic switching element which is based, for example, on a MOSFET. The fuel cell stack itself is cooled. The at least one switching element is in thermally conductive contact with a cooling circuit for cooling the fuel cell stack, for example, by mounting the switching element on the end plates of the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soldering nozzle for wave soldering printed circuit boards with electric components, which comprises rows of solder outlets arranged transversely with respect to the direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards. Said solder outlets are arranged in a staggered manner from row to row in the direction of conveyance, whereby at least two rows are provided with solder outlets embodied in the form of slots and in each row the slots are arranged parallel to each other in a slanted position with respect to the conveyor device, whereby the slanted position of each row is reversed in relation to the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: A metal-ceramic composite material has a ceramic matrix and a metallic phase, which are intermingled with one another, together form a virtually completely dense body and are in contact with one another at boundary surfaces. An interlayer between the metallic phase and the ceramic matrix has a thickness of between 10 nm and 1 000 nm and is composed of reaction products of the metallic phase and the ceramic phase.

Abstract: A system and method for encoding an input sequence of code points to produce an output sequence of bytes that is compressed, but has the same relative binary order as the original sequence.

Abstract: According to the invention, monitoring the data processing and transmission in a data processing unit can be achieved, whereby, in a data processing unit (1) with a number of software modules (2A, 2B), between which data (D) is exchanged, a check sum (P) is allocated to the data (D) of a data transmission, which, in selected software modules (2B) is advanced by a number of places (n) allocated thereto, on a successful passage of said data (D) through one of said software modules (2B).

Abstract: A die provided for fixing a porous ceramic insert for producing a light metal component which is reinforced by the insert. For this purpose, the insert is positioned in the die in such a way that any force which occurs for the purpose of fixing the insert is compensated for by a collinear force, which minimizes the bending moments exerted on the insert. Furthermore, shielding elements are used to protect the insert from a casting metal flowing into the die. Furthermore, the invention describes a process in which the velocity of a casting plunger which moves the casting metal into the die is regulated in such a way that the insert is not damaged by the kinetic energy of the casting metal. This is achieved by filling the die at a low velocity until the metal has flowed around the insert. Then, the casting plunger is accelerated, thus ensuring optimum filling of the die with the casting metal.