Abstract: A sun-position tracking system for a solar module has a base on which a rotary plate is supported. Several generally parallel fixed rods fixed to the plate have outer ends extending outward past the plate. A planar frame is pivoted on the rod outer ends about a generally horizontal frame axis between a down position with the frame lying on and substantially parallel to the plate and an up position extending at an acute angle to the plate. The solar module is carried on the frame and lies in a panel plane above the rods and plate. A sector gear fixed to the frame outside the outer edge of the plate and wholly below the plane is engaged by a pivot drive mounted on the rod outer ends and wholly below the plane the frame between its positions.

Abstract: A device that automatically tracks the position of the sun for solar modules is described. The device comprises a substructure, a revolving platform that is rotatably mounted on the substructure, an optical sensor and a pivoting frame that is located on the revolving platform. A rotary drive rotates the revolving platform and a pivoting drive pivots the frame up and down. The device is extremely compact and robust and is particularly suitable for mounting on vehicles.

Abstract: The acoustic transducer system includes an electroacoustic transducer and a flexural oscillator plate which is coupled to the electroacoustic transducer. The flexural oscillator plate is so constructed that at the system operating frequency it is stimulated to flexural oscillations of a higher order at which on the flexural oscillator plate node lines form between which antinode zones oscillating alternately in opposite phase lie. To influence the sound radiation of the flexural oscillator plate a sonic beam shaper is provided. The sonic beam shaper has soundwave barriers which are impermeable for soundwaves and which lie spaced from the flexural oscillator plate and acoustically decoupled therefrom in front of first antinode zones oscillating in equal phase with each other, and soundwave-permeable regions which lie between the soundwave barriers in front of the remaining second antinode zones oscillating in opposite phase to the first antinode zones.

Abstract: An ultrasonic echo sounding apparatus disposed at a measuring location transmits ultrasonic pulses in successive transmission periods. The echo pulses received after reflection at a target are converted to electrical envelope signals which represent the envelope curves of the echo pulses. The envelope signals are transmitted via a connecting line to an evaluation apparatus disposed at an evaluation station remote from the measuring location. In the evaluation apparatus the envelope signals are evaluated for determining the target distance from the travel time of the ultrasonic pulses. The transmission of envelope signals results in the advantage that the information contained in the pulse shape of the echo pulses is available in the evaluation station, although it is not necessary to transmit signals having the high frequency of the ultrasonic pulses via the connecting line.