Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically conductive wire (1) comprising two spaced solder balls (2) thereon and flux (4) in the space (3) between the solder balls for making a circuit connection between electrically conductive members on opposite surfaces of a substrate. The wire (1) is inserted in a through-hole of the substrate and soldered by a customary soldering process, like wave soldering.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for regenerating an ion exchange cartridge. In household appliances with an electric heating element for heating water, such as irons, coffee makers, and electric water kettles, deposition of scale is prevented by using an ion exchange cartridge (16) comprising a resin (23) which binds alkaline earth metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, but also negative ions such as SO42− and CO32− ions. The device is a simple tool in which the cartridge can be inserted for regeneration. The device comprises a reservoir (2) with an outlet (10) to which an inlet (6) of the cartridge can be coupled. By filling the reservoir with a brine, for example 1 l of water with 10% by weight of NaCl, said brine will flow through the cartridge replacing the alkaline earth metal ions, carbonate ions, and sulfate ions in the resin with the alkali metal ions (Na+) and the chloride ions (Cl−) of the brine. The brine can be easily drained into a sink.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high-pressure discharge lamp having a discharge vessel with a ceramic wall which is closed at an end by a projecting plug. A lead-through construction inside the projecting plug leads to an electrode inside the discharge vessel. Part of the lead-through construction is formed by a cermet, which extends fully inside the lead-through element. According to the invention, the cermet is directly fastened to the projecting plug by means of a sintered joint.

Abstract: The vibrating toothbrush includes a first arm portion with a brushhead mounted at a free end and a second arm portion joined by a hinge-like portion. The first and second arm portions have first and second natural resonant frequencies. A spring member connects the second arm portion to the first arm portion, and a solenoid actuator is also connected between the first and second arm portions. A contact switch assembly is responsive to a DC battery voltage such that when the switch is closed, the first arm portion is drawn in one direction by the actuator, which results in compression of the spring and opening of the switch, with the compressed spring moving the first arm portion in the opposing direction until the switch again closes, so that the brushhead moves back and forth with the opening and closing of the switch. A pressure feedback arrangement makes use of the spring element and a nodal mount which extends from the spring at a selected point therealong to the handle of the toothbrush.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a discharge lamp provided with a discharge vessel enclosing a discharge space. The discharge vessel is provided with a ceramic wall which is formed through sintering of a body shaped by sludge molding. The sludge molding process comprises the steps of: injecting an outer porous mold with sludge, precipitating the sludge against the outer mold, and removing the excess sludge, removing the outer mold, and pre-firing of the molded body. According to the invention, the sludge is injected into the outer mold by means of a hollow needle which extends to inside the hollow mold.

Abstract: Method comprising steps of: A) determining a quantity related to a person's personal minimum erythema dose (MED), B) using said quantity as an input for a tanning-related device, thus influencing its operation, and comprising for the purpose of step A), C) non-invasively measuring a feature of the person's skin related to the person's personal MED, and D) electronically deducing the person's personal MED from the measured feature. Furthermore, a device for use with a tanning-related device (12) comprising measuring means (1) for non-invasively measuring a feature of the person's skin (3) related to the person's personal MED, deduction means (5) for deducting the person's personal MED from the measured feature, and communication means (7) for electronically communicating a signal representing the deduced MED to a tanning-related device.

Abstract: A method and structure for substantially overcome vertical segregation in HID lamps, the method comprising the steps of: determining and selecting a frequency sweep signal to produce arc straightening and a fixed frequency signal for exciting a second longitudinal acoustic mode; and exciting in conjunction with a carrier frequency an arc straightening acoustic mode together with a second longitudinal acoustic mode excitation. In a preferred embodiment, the exciting step comprises amplitude modulating the carrier frequency signal with a sum of the frequency sweep signal and the fixed frequency signal.

Abstract: A system for determining when the brushhead portion of a power toothbrush should be replaced. The system includes a piezoelectric transducer for detecting oscillations of the brushhead. The piezoelectric transducer produces an output signal which is used to drive a counter which accumulates the total number of such oscillations. When the total number of oscillations reaches a preselected number, which is representative of typical use of the toothbrush for a predetermined amount of time, e.g. six months, a signal is produced which drives an alarm indicator, the action of which is recognizable by the user of the toothbrush.

Abstract: A movement detector for detecting movement of a body includes a light sensor, a kaleidoscopic mirror and a lens for projecting a multiple image of the space onto the sensor. The movement detector is very sensitive and has a very small diameter.

Abstract: An electric lamp (1) comprising a gastight lamp vessel (2) for the transformation of electrical energy into light, which lamp vessel has two current conductors (3,6; 4,7) which extend to the outside. The lamp further comprises an outer envelope (9) in which the lamp vessel (2) is arranged with a space between the lamp vessel and the outer envelope. The outer envelope (9) has a lamp cap (11) to which the current conductors (6,7) are electrically connected. The lamp (1) further has means (17) for switching off the lamp by short-circuiting the current conductors (6,7) in the case of fracture of the outer envelope (9).

Abstract: The bristles have a stepped configuration with a top portion with a uniform diameter of approximately 0.005 inches, a middle portion with a uniform diameter of approximately 0.006 inches and a base portion having a uniform diameter of approximately 0.007 inches.

Abstract: A description is given of a disc-shaped rewritable optical information medium having an IPIM stack (2) comprising a phase-change recording layer (4) sandwiched between two dielectric layers (3,5), and a metal mirror layer (6). The thickness of the recording layer (4) increases gradually with increasing radius r. As a result, the complete erasure time CET of recorded marks decreases from the inner radius ri to the outer radius ro. Therefore, at a point closer to the outer radius marks can be recorded at a higher linear speed than at a point closer to the inner radius. This effect ensures that the recording medium can be used for recording at a constant angular velocity (CAV).

Abstract: A low-pressure gas discharge lamp having a gas discharge vessel containing a gas filling with a chalcogenide of the elements of the 4th main group of the periodic systems of elements and a buffer gas, and having inner or outer electrodes and means for generating and maintaining a low-pressure gas discharge.