Abstract: A method for creating patterned coatings on a molded article includes providing a molded article which has a surface comprising a first area and a second area, at least one surface property in the first area of the surface being different from that in the second area, applying a coating covering at least the first area and the second area to the surface of the molded article, the adhesion of said coating being greater in the first area than in the second area because of the at least one different surface property, and partially removing the coating by means of a removal process which is applied to the entire coating at a constant removal power that is determined such that the entire coating is removed in the second area while the coating remains in place on an entire surface of the first area.

Abstract: A method for creating patterned coatings on a molded article includes providing a molded article which has a surface comprising a first area and a second area, at least one surface property in the first area of the surface being different from that in the second area, applying a coating covering at least the first area and the second area to the surface of the molded article, the adhesion of said coating being greater in the first area than in the second area because of the at least one different surface property, and partially removing the coating by means of a removal process which is applied to the entire coating at a constant removal power that is determined such that the entire coating is removed in the second area while the coating remains in place on an entire surface of the first area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for applying a coating material to a surface, comprising the steps of:—providing a stream of gas mixture (8) comprising a carrier gas and a coating material (2),—feeding the stream of gas mixture (8) onto the surface (3a), wherein the stream of gas 12 s mixture (8) impinges on the surface (3a) and the coating material (2) applied there forms an area of impingement (11) on the surface (3a)—coupling at least one laser beam (7) into the stream of gas mixture (8),—wherein the coupled-in energy of the at least one laser beam (7) is determined in such a way that the solid coating material (2) at least partially melts and—wherein each laser beam (7) is directed onto the stream of gas mixture (8) in such a way that the laser beam (7) does not fall on the area of impingement (11) on the surface. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A thermal solar system including a collector that is connected to a heat sink, in particular a heat storage medium, by way of a solar circuit containing a heat exchange medium. To reduce overheating of the system during idling and to improve the efficiency of the solar system, the solar circuit is connected temporarily to at least one heat exchanger by way of a valve control unit disposed at a hot side of a thermogenerator receiving an inflowing heat flow. A thermal insulation reduces the exchange of thermal energy between the collector of a thermal solar system and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermogenerator including several thermocouples that are electrically connected together. The thermocouples are arranged between one hot side of the thermogenerator receiving a thermal flow and a cold side that is arranged at a distance from the hot side. The thermoelectric generator that at least temporarily uses the fed thermal energy efficiently. The thermoelectric generator can be designed as a module including a collector for a thermal solar system and the thermal carrier medium flowing through the collector is guided, at least temporarily, to a thermoelectric generator by a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for at least one thermoelectric thin film element, having a hot and a cold side arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the thin film element. The hot side is connected to a coupling element on a warm source and the cold side is connected to a heat sink. The heat exchanger connects in a simple and active manner to the thermoelectric thin film element and improves the efficiency of the attached thermoelectric thin film element. Especially flexible thin film elements spread out between the coupling element and the heat sink of the heat exchanger and support the load between the coupling element and the heat sink by a thermally insulating support structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for applying a coating to a substrate, where a plasma jet of a low-temperature plasma is produced by conducting a working gas through an excitation zone. The plasma jet is directed at the substrate, and plate-shaped particles having an average thickness between 10 and 50,000 nanometers and a shape factor in a value range from 10 to 2000 are fed into the plasma jet. The plate-shaped particles are fed into the plasma jet by means of a carrier gas. The plasma jet is produced by exciting the working gas by means of an alternating voltage or a pulsed direct voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing plasma, includes a container provided with at least one discharge electrode and a power supply unit that has at least one coupling electrode that can be capacitively coupled to the discharge electrode. The power supply unit is adapted to be removable from the container. The at least one coupling electrode is disposed beneath an insulating layer. In this way, the user can not come into direct contact with a coupling electrode after removing the power supply unit.

Abstract: A cleaning attachment, especially for a vacuum cleaner, includes a housing, a connection for a vacuum tube, an intake opening for ambient air, a plasma generator arranged in the housing to generate plasma, and at least one cleaning opening or a channel, along which a mixture of plasma and air passes over at the surface to be cleaned before the mixture is drawn back into the housing and through the connection. As a result, the cleaning attachment can also treat the air and the dirt with a sterilizing and odor-neutralizing action.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing plasma, includes a container provided with at least one discharge electrode and a power supply unit that has at least one coupling electrode that can be capacitively coupled to the discharge electrode. The power supply unit is adapted to be removable from the container. The at least one coupling electrode is disposed beneath an insulating layer. In this way, the user can not come into direct contact with a coupling electrode after removing the power supply unit.

Abstract: A device for cleaning objects includes, a device for drawing in surrounding air, a device for producing plasma and a device for blowing out a mixture of surrounding air and plasma into the object to be cleaned. The device is used preferably in household applications in the cleaning and sanitization of mattresses, joints and walls.

Abstract: A heat exchanger for at least one thermoelectric thin film element, having a hot and a cold side arranged on opposite longitudinal sides of the thin film element. The hot side is connected to a coupling element on a warm source and the cold side is connected to a heat sink. The heat exchanger connects in a simple and active manner to the thermoelectric thin film element and improves the efficiency of the attached thermoelectric thin film element. Especially flexible thin film elements spread out between the coupling element and the heat sink of the heat exchanger and support the load between the coupling element and the heat sink by a thermally insulating support structure.

Abstract: A thermogenerator including several thermocouples that are electrically connected together. The thermocouples are arranged between one hot side of the thermogenerator receiving a thermal flow and a cold side that is arranged at a distance from the hot side. The thermoelectric generator that at least temporarily uses the fed thermal energy efficiently. The thermoelectric generator can be designed as a module including a collector for a thermal solar system and the thermal carrier medium flowing through the collector is guided, at least temporarily, to a thermoelectric generator by a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A thermal solar system including a collector that is connected to a heat sink, in particular a heat storage medium, by way of a solar circuit containing a heat exchange medium. To reduce overheating of the system during idling and to improve the efficiency of the solar system, the solar circuit is connected temporarily to at least one heat exchanger by way of a valve control unit disposed at a hot side of a thermogenerator receiving an inflowing heat flow. A thermal insulation reduces the exchange of thermal energy between the collector of a thermal solar system and the heat exchanger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating or coating surfaces by means of a plasma. A carrier gas is thus introduced into at least one physically separate reaction chamber and mixed with the generated plasma beam such that the carrier gas is activated or a particle beam is generated which impinges the surface of a workpiece for treatment or coating independently of the plasma stream.

Abstract: A cold light UV irradiation device is used for curing UV paint and UV printing dyes on heat-sensitive substrates (12,13). It is used, for example, in plants for printing on packaging foils or in the production line for CD□s (Compact Discs) and DVD□s (Digital Versatile Discs). The irradiation devices used until now emit in addition to the UV radiation also a high portion of heat radiation (IR Radiation) onto the substrate (12,13), which often leads to deformation and brittleness of the substrate. The present invention allows an effective separation of the UV radiation from the IR radiation. With short beam paths, a high UV intensity with a low heat load of the substrate is realized.