Abstract: Techniques for determining authenticity of analog forms such as packaging or documents (117). One of the techniques determines whether the analog form has been made directly from a digital representation (903) or by photocopying or scanning an analog form. The technique makes the determination by comparing (911) an original digital representation of a portion of the analog form with a digital recording (203) of the portion from the analog form and measuring differences in features that are affected by the operations of photocopying or scanning. The original digital representation (105) and the analog form may have a “noisy”, i.e., random or pseudo random pattern. Such noisy patterns may further be used for other authentication purposes, such as determining whether the portion of the analog form that has the noisy pattern has been altered and to carry hidden messages. The noisy pattern may carry a logo or may be part or all of a barcode.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion method with homogeneous auto ignition. A driver's demand, predetermined by the gas pedal, is converted into a desired torque to be given off by the engine. A reference charge value for the air charge is determined by a working-point-dependent lambda value (?opt) that can be predetermined. Based on this, a throttle valve position is set. Parallel to this, a desired torque is calculated for the fuel path with a reference lambda value, and an actual charge is calculated to yield a fuel amount to be injected. The reference lambda value results from an optimal lambda value for the mode of operation of homogeneous compression ignition, as long as the lambda value is within the rich and lean limits, respectively, of the combustion method of homogeneous compression ignition. The fuel mass is varied within the rich and lean limits to compensate dynamic processes.

Abstract: A freely movable strength training device for strengthening the body musculature can be loaded by pulling. The device has a housing and at least one spring element arranged in the housing, which can be loaded via muscular strength. The device has at least two pull elements which can be actuated by a user. All pull elements are fastened on the spring element.

Abstract: Determining the transition between systole and diastole is important for pulse contour-analytical determination of hemodynamic, first of all cardiac output. During the temporal progression of arterial pressure P(t) on which pulse contour analysis is based, the transition between systole and diastole appears as a local minimum. This local slump of the pressure curve downward is very short and is often little recognizable in the actually measured curves due to inaccuracies conditioned by measuring techniques. It was also found that the transition between systole and diastole can be more reliably and accurately determined as the site of maximum curvature of function P(t). Consequently, the invention relates to a device having a calculation unit that comprises evaluation means for detecting the site of maximum curvature of function P(t) in a detection area between the maximum and minimum functional value of the pulse cycle as the site of transition between systole and diastole.

Abstract: A vibration generator has at least two groups of shafts, on which at least two groups of imbalances are disposed, and which are connected with at least one drive that rotates the shafts relative to one another, at different speeds of rotation, thereby achieving a directed advance. The operating direction of the vibration generator can be adjusted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and corresponding plant for the hygienic operation of an ion exchanger, in particular, in water treatment, whereby the ion exchanger is regenerated by a regenerating agent solution during a regeneration phase. According to the invention, a simultaneous disinfection effect may be achieved, whereby chlorine dioxide is generated in situ in the regenerating agent solution and run through the ion exchanger.

Abstract: For a pressure sensor module comprising a printed circuit board and a pressure cell, wherein the pressure cell has a measuring opening, and the pressure cell is encapsulated by injection molding compound in such a manner that the measuring opening is kept open, the pressure cell, as viewed from the measuring opening, is attached on the rear side of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has a recess in the area of the measuring opening, and the injection molding compound encloses the attachment area of the pressure cell on the printed circuit board. Thereby, the use of different adhesives, also soft adhesives, for the connection of the pressure cell with the printed circuit board is possible without this attachment area being attacked by the surrounding media.

Abstract: A contact has a coupling portion formed of a material which can be bent and unbent. The contact has a spring portion adapted to be connected to a first connection object and a connecting portion adapted to be connected to a second connection object. The spring portion and the connecting portion extend from the coupling portion. The coupling portion is bent into a shape surrounding an axis and maintained in the shape. An electrical connector may be formed by holding the contact in a housing.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices having self-test and non-resettable or limited resettable power interrupting systems are provided. The permanent power interrupting system activates when a circuit interrupting device is no longer capable of operating in accordance with applicable standards governing such devices or the device is no longer capable of operating in accordance with its design characteristics.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for separating a gas-liquid mixture, in which the liquid portion exists in the form of small particles, especially for ventilating a crankcase of an internal combustion engine, by separating and coagulating the liquid particles on a target area. The liquid mixture, after acceleration in acceleration openings provided for this purpose, impacts the target area at an approximately right angle. The aim of the invention is to improve the aforementioned device in such a manner that it allows as high a degree of separation as possible for different sized volume flows of mixtures. For this purpose, the number and/or the cross-sections of the acceleration openings is varied, depending on the volume flow of mixtures, between a small complete cross-section for a low volume flow and a large complete cross-section for a large volume flow.

Abstract: An electric plug connector with hermaphrodite contact elements (100) having the following features: an electric contact element (100) of a first plug connector opens toward a second electric contact element (100) like a fork, the inner surfaces of the forks, which comprise two legs (110, 120) each, embrace at least in part one leg (120, 110) of the matching other contact element, and is characterized by the following features: one of the two legs (110) comprises a projection of convex shape (111); the other one of the two legs (120) comprises a concave recess (121); and the shape of the concave recess (121) is adapted to the convex projection (111) so that in the engaged condition of two plug connectors the convex projection (111) of the first plug connector is in positive contact, at least in part, with the concave recess (121) of the second plug connector, or vice versa.

Abstract: A piston/connecting rod arrangement for an internal combustion engine has a piston upper part with hub supports which lie opposite one another and have hubs and hub holes which delimit a recess, in which the small connecting-rod eye of a connecting rod is arranged. A piston pin is mounted in the small connecting-rod eye and the hub holes. There is at least one oil-guiding face to be provided on that face of the hub support which faces the recess. At least one oil-guiding face opens into at least one oil-collecting space which is arranged in the hub hole, in such a way that the oil-guiding face guides oil into the oil-collecting space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gas intake zone of a separable gas filter housing which removably accommodates a filter element. The gas intake zone is used as a prefilter and comprises a plurality of axially adjacent, axially impinged cyclone collectors that are provided with respective spin generators in the inlet zones thereof and gas-discharging immersion tubes at the discharge end within annular ducts which are located between the immersion tubes and the respectively associated outer cyclone walls while being used for pre-separating dirt particles separated in an outer radial direction in the individual cyclones by means of centrifugal forces, the immersion tubes being axially dipped into the interior of the cyclone collectors.

Abstract: Voice recording used for authentication is transmitted to the voice portal of the service provider not by way of the voice channel, but rather by way of a data channel. In this connection, the voice recording is sent not synchronous to speech and subject to loss, but rather asynchronously and loss-free, in an extra data package (for example advantageously as a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) data package). For this purpose, the resources that are available as standard items in most mobile phone terminals, such as digital voice recording and MMS transmission, can be utilized. Preferably, the subscriber's identification module or SIM card in the mobile phone terminal can store and implement the corresponding control program.

Abstract: The invention relates to fixing means for fixing railway lines to sleepers or stretches of track, comprising an elastic rail clip (51) and a clip anchor element (31). According to the invention, the elastic rail clip (51) has retaining elements that can be inserted into the clip anchor element (31) and guided into the latter by being rotated about a rotational axis (D) and at least one pressure bow (52), which can be brought into pre-tensioned contact with the foot (24) of a railway line (21), when the elastic rail clip is rotated (51) about the rotational axis (D) in relation to the clip anchor element (31). The elastic rail clip (51) has essentially annular clip bows (55, 56) that act as the retaining elements and the clip anchor element (31) has guide elements (34) that are concentric with the rotational axis (D).

Abstract: The present invention provides a connector configured to electrically connect two connection objects. The connector comprises an elastic member having a surface and a conductive film placed on the surface of the elastic member. The conductive film comprises two contact portions to be brought into contact with the connection objects, respectively, and a connect portion connecting the contact portions. Each of the contact portions comprises projections and a drainage arranged, at least in part, between the projections.

Abstract: A keyboard unit (10) comprising a plurality of keys (12) surrounding a centre (14) and operable singly and chordally by a single finger (or thumb). Preferred arrangements consist of three, four or seven surrounding keys (12), particularly for playing musical notes of an octave. A keyboard (16) may comprise a plurality of spaced apart units (10) in groups (18) operable by respective fingers. The different units (10) may operate different instrumental sounds. Variations include shift functions, operation of lights, e.g. in mixed sequence with notes, operation of alphanumeric characters, e.g. to produce up to a 10-character word or grouping simultaneously. The keyboard (16) may be on the back of a guitar neck (30) or arranged to correspond to the keys on a piano. Logical circuitry and mosaic and adapted QWERTY keyboards are described, also a piano keyboard with phantom black notes.

Abstract: A piston engine (10), in particular in a motor vehicle, has a plurality of cylinders (3) whose combustion chambers (4) are connected to a fresh gas system (5). The fresh gas system (5) has two gas paths, namely a full-load path (9) and a partial-load path (10), for at least one of the cylinders (3), through which the fresh gas (6) can be supplied to the respective combustion chamber (4). To this end, a valve arrangement (11) at the intake end is provided for controlling the fresh gas stream through the gas paths (9, 10) into the respective combustion chamber (4).

Abstract: Condensation-crosslinked dental materials based on alkoxysilyl-functional and/or hydroxysilyl-functional polyethers are useful in dentistry for taking tooth impressions, bite registration, denture rebasing, or as temporary and permanent dental cement, temporary closure material, or dental prosthodontic material. The dental material has a composition containing at least one alkoxysilyl-functional and/or hydroxysilyl-functional polyether a), at least one catalyst b), and optionally water c) and at least one acidic compound d) that has a water solubility (20° C.) of no more than 150 g/l.