Abstract: A kitchen appliance (1) has a housing (3) having a first housing area (6) in which a first container (8) and a second housing area (7) in which a second container (17) can be placed onto the housing (3), which kitchen appliance (1) has an add-on unit (25) which can be accommodated in the second housing area (7) of the kitchen appliance (1) when the second container (17) is not in place.

Abstract: A single-component ARTIC BRITE™ phosphor and a low pressure discharge lamp utilizing such a phosphor is provided having a lamp envelope 3 having an inner surface 15, means 5,6,7,9,13 within the lamp envelope for generating ultraviolet radiation; and a layer 17 of a luminescent material adjacent the inner surface of the lamp envelope for generating visible light when impinged by the ultraviolet radiation. The phosphor material is at least one layer of a single-component ARTIC BRITE™ calcium, halophosphate phosphor having CIE color coordinates of X=346 and Y=359 and a CRI of at least 69, preferably a calcium halophosphate having the formula Ca5−x−ySbxMny(PO4)3ClzF1−x−z, wherein x is from about 0.032 to 0.037; y is from about 0.06 to 0.14; and z is about 0.025 to 0.05. The phosphor is derived from low cost, mined calcium carbonate, employing reactants in the following ratios: based on six phosphate atoms) about 0.142 manganese carbonate, about 0.

Abstract: A suction attachment for a vacuum cleaner. The suction attachment comprises a foot, a suction opening extending in an imaginary plane, and a connection member for connecting the foot to a suction channel of the vacuum cleaner. The foot is provided with a brush, which is displaceable by means of an adjusting device from a first position, in which the brush is recessed in the suction opening, to a second position, in which the brush protrudes from the suction opening. The foot is rotatable with respect to the connection member about an axis of rotation, which extends substantially perpendicularly to the imaginary plane, from a first position to at least a second position, and the adjusting device includes a coupling member by means of which the brush is coupled to the connection member, the coupling member holding the brush in its first position, in the first position of the foot, and the coupling member holding the brush in its second position, in the second position of the foot.

Abstract: A drive system including a rectifier, a high-frequency filter, a static inverter and an induction motor is driven without energy stores and fed by the single-phase mains, in which the use of an envelope generator with a mains-synchronous, preferably sinusoidal signal causes a preferably sinusoidal envelope to be sign-superimposed on the static inverter output signal, thus preventing inadmissible current overshoots in the single-phase mains. Possible fluctuations of the intermediate circuit voltage are thereby compensated. The advantageous operating frequency of the static inverter may be adjusted automatically by a PLL control circuit in that the phase shift between intermediate current and the envelope signal is evaluated. The advantageous operating frequency may be gained by adding a given frequency difference to the rotational speed of the motor. The envelope directly represents a projection of the variation of the voltage of the single-phase mains.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus, such as a sun-tanning apparatus, has a housing enclosing a light source and other components, and a wall made of a translucent material through which light and other radiation passes to a user. The wall has a first surface facing the light source, and a second surface facing away from the source. To provide light scattering, so that a user does not see the image of the light source or non-light-emitting components, at least one of the surfaces, preferably the first surface only, has a surface structure divided into at least two areas which scatter light while still radiating a sparkling light. Each of these areas has a mutually different surface structure, preferably formed of a respective pattern of elementary structural shapes.

Abstract: In an arrangement (1) which firstly includes charging current generation means (2), which have a first output terminal (9) and a second output terminal (10), and which secondly includes rechargeable energy storage means (2) connected to the second output terminal (10), which rechargeable energy storage means (2) can be recharged with the charging current (IL) and which thirdly includes load means (3) which can be connected to the second output terminal (10), which load means (3) can be supplied with power from the energy storage means (2), the load means (3) and the energy storage means (2) form a series combination (SC) between the first output terminals (9) and a second a second output terminal (10).

Abstract: A toothbrush (1) has a cleaning member (3) equipped with a drivable bristle holder (20) for holding main bristles (21) and with a drivable interdental bristle holder (26) for holding interdental bristles (27),the interdental bristle holder (26) being coupled to a drive element (29) with the aid of a coupling element (39) and, of the coupling element (39) and the drive element (29) at the coupling element (39) is at least partly elastically deformable parallel to the longitudinal bristle direction (28) of the interdental bristles (27) held by the interdental bristle holder (26).

Abstract: A method for the fine tuning of a passive electronic component having at least a carrier substrate and at least one electrically conducting layer containing a material having a conducting nitride, a conducting oxynitride, a semiconductor, or chromium, by means of a focused laser emission, which laser emission induces a heating effect which heating effect causes the material to be converted to a locally electrically non-conducting material.

Abstract: A battery-powered apparatus is provided having a battery (B1), detection means (IC1) for detecting a discharge condition of the battery, and signaling means (D) for indicating the discharge condition of the battery, as well as discharge means (R5, T1) which are activated by the detection means when a predetermined first discharge condition of the battery is reached, in order to discharge the battery in a controlled manner until a predetermined second discharge condition of the battery has been reached.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor having a cuboid piezoelectric element (1) which carries an actuating member (2) for transmitting a force in an actuating direction (x). In known motors the piezoelectric element (1) is restrained by four restraining elements which are disposed in the plane of vibration (x/y plane) and which exert a preloading force on the piezoelectric element (1) in a direction perpendicular to the actuating direction (x). However, this gives rise to a frictional force between the restraining elements and the piezoelectric element, which reduces the vibration quality and, as a consequence, the motor power. This is avoided by means of the invention, where the piezoelectric element (1) is restrained by means of restraining elements (20, 21, 22, 23) without preloading, i.e. with maximal slidability in the directions (y, z) perpendicular to the actuating direction (x).

Abstract: In a picture display device driven with an active matrix the voltage across the pixels (12) is accurately adjusted by discharging or charging the associated capacitances, if necessary, first to beyond the transition range (17) in the transmission/voltage characteristic.